AA pleads for extension in bid to fight scores of ‘awaiting’ fines
“Insurers may repudiate claims if motorists are driving with expired licences. Although those who have applied for new licences are covered through an extension of the validity of their licences, there are still many drivers who have not applied for renewed licences for various reasons beyond their control.”
With the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula expected to provide an update on the deadline for the extension of vehicle licence validity on Friday, the Automobile Association (AA) has warned of a crisis looming.
The AA said the crisis was upon motorists whose licences expired between March 26, 2020 and August 31, 2021 and which was only valid until March 31, 2022.
That was the latest deadline announced Mbalula in August of last year.
“In February, Minister Mbalula indicated that the total backlog of licences that will have expired by March 31 – that have to be renewed – stands at 2.1 million nationally.
“Given the recent problems with the production of driving licence cards, and issues around driving licence testing centres (DLTCs) and online booking systems, we believe it’s unrealistic to expect that this enormous backlog will be cleared by today. This leaves hundreds of thousands of drivers without the necessary documents to be on the road legally,” the AA stated.
“Unless traffic law enforcement understands these issues – and finds a suitable way of addressing them – we may find a massive spike in the number of traffic fines issued to motorists in the next couple of weeks and months.”
The association said motorists would most probably find themselves negatively impacted from an insurance perspective if they are involved in crashes.
“Insurers may repudiate claims if motorists are driving with expired licences. Although those who have applied for new licences are covered through an extension of the validity of their licences, there are still many drivers who have not applied for renewed licences for various reasons beyond their control.
“Government’s priority should be to provide an environment conducive to renewing these documents, and to provide the necessary back-up systems to ensure timely production and delivery.
“However, this is currently not the case in the majority of DLTCs and is creating a situation that will, effectively, criminalise those who could not apply for renewals through no fault of their own,” the AA said.
The association said the only practical solution was for government to further extend the renewal period, and to ensure all DLTCs and systems are geared to accommodate the backlogs.
“Failing to do this, motorists will unfortunately make the decision to drive illegally as they still must remain mobile, whatever the consequences. This is a situation which suits no one in the country.
“Extending the deadline will indicate a willingness by government to deal effectively with the current backlogs and will show that it understands the limitations of its current structures. Along with extending the deadline, government must now urgently finalise plans to extend the validity period of driving licences from five to 10 years,” said the AA.
Earlier this month, the National Department of Transport in a statement announced that the backlog of driving licences which occurred between November 2021 and January 2022 would be cleared by April 2022.
This as the transport department was set to establish regulations, that would place it well on track with the production of outstanding driving licence cards.
“The renewal backlog, that was experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, grace period will be cleared by September 2022.”
It said the following regulation would apply in due course:
– Motorists who applied to renew their driving licence cards before March 31, 2022, will have their driving licences valid for a further three months – on condition that they are in possession of their old driving licence cards.
– They must also have proof of fees paid for the application to renew in a form of a receipt.
– The regulation was also applicable to those who had applied to renew their driving licence cards since February 25, 2022 and before the end of the grace period of March 31.
“Their driving licence cards will also be valid for a further period of three months. Applying after the expiry date would require the motorist to also apply for a temporary driving license.”
The department said motorists were therefore encouraged to apply for renewals before the expiry date to avoid incurring any possible additional costs.
The regulations were announced after the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration and Public Works and Infrastructure held a hearing over the huge backlog caused by the closure of licensing centres due to a number of reasons, such as Covid-19, corruption, faulty equipment and downtime-systems at licensing centres in many provinces.
It said the issue had occurred largely in Gauteng.
Chairperson of the committee Kenny Mmoiemang said the Select Committee received a briefing by the Department of Transport on progress made to address the backlogs and on the details of the memorandum of understanding entered into with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
“The committee noted that the Department of Transport issued a one-year grace period for the renewal of licences from March 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
“The total backlog of driving licences that expires by March 31, 2022, stands at 2.1 million nationwide.
“Nationally more than 1.2-million licences out of a total of 2.8 million expired licences are yet to be renewed.”
Mmoiemang said the department was requested to look at alternative ways to deal with the driving licence backlogs such as extended hours at DLTCs.
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