Motorists sympathise with pending demerit system
Motorists have argued that South Africa does not necessarily have the manpower to handle high volumes of traffic during times like Easter as accidents are constant occurrences. They argue that the aggressive Aarto system could be a great idea for road user consequences.
The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) system with its demerit system is set for implementation in February 2024 but local motorists remain uncertain about what to expect of these impending changes to road management.
Aarto will bring about a new culture to the management of traffic by decriminalising infringements rather diverting them to an administrative process.
Aarto seeks to initiate many systems such as demerits for motorists that habitually infringe the road laws, however further makes provision for a “driver rehabilitation programme” which applies to the “habitual infringers” only.
A “habitual infringer” is a motorist that incurs demerit points resulting in a cancellation of their driver’s licence more than twice.
The system is expected to improve safer driving behaviour and reduce road crashes, while also rewarding good behaviour by reducing demerit points earned if no infringement or offence is committed over a period of time.
Some residents have raised concerns that Tshwane may not necessarily have the manpower to implement this punitive system.
Others point out that there are so many infringements that could get a motorist in trouble that it is impossible to know them all.
Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) spokesperson Monde Mkalipi told Rekord that the system aims to deter bad driving.
He said if a motorist had some demerit points, but was not a habitual offender, a point would be deducted every three months without a new violation.
He said this was a way to incentivise good driving.
Mkalipi said demerit points were allocated according to the severity of the infringement.
“The current demerit points threshold for both drivers and operators is at 15. Once the threshold is exceeded, your licence is suspended.”
He said once a licence is suspended, the operator would be required to undergo rehabilitation.
“Aarto is not just about punishment but has intentions to ensure compliance and change of road-user behaviour.”
He said rehabilitation would also be voluntary to speed up the deduction of demerit points for motorists who had yet to reach the threshold of 15 demerit points.
Mkalipi said the RTIA had already started intensive road user education and empowerment programmes, whilst more than 25 000 traffic officers throughout the country would be trained on Aarto.
“We will continue with these empowerment programmes until we roll out nationally.”
He said the RTIA was also creating Aarto service outlets in all municipalities across the country to bring services closer to the road user.
“The Department of Transport is also in the process of appointing members who will serve in the Aarto appeals tribunal (AAT). The tribunal will be another layer of protection to road users.
“In case an infringer is dissatisfied with the outcome of the RTIA adjudication process, they can appeal to the tribunal. The AAT will have a representative in each of the nine provinces,” he explained.
Mkalipi also announced that older fines incurred by motorists would not be scrapped.
“Once the Aarto is implemented, the old traffic fines will continue to be dealt with in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act until finalised whilst the new ones will be dealt with in terms of the Aarto Act.”
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