POLOKWANE – Big changes are coming on South Africa’s roads should the latest draft of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act’s demerit system be implemented.

According to a draft document published in the Government Gazette, the ‘demerit points system’ will come into effect on 1 July 2021, leaving motorists with just under nine months to perfect their driving.

In essence, the demerit system is a tally of the number of offences committed by motorists and the number of demerits depends on the severity of each offence.

The proposed system, government says, is necessary to change the behaviour of drivers and create safer roads. As a result, the allocation of demerit points will be introduced in three phases to ensure that motorits are gradually introduced to the implications.

“This will avoid a situation where many vehicles are suspended and numerous drivers disqualified shortly after the implementation of the system. This will have a huge impact on the economy and well as the social well-being of road users,” the document reads.

Here’s how the phases will work:

Phase Two will be implemented once the effect of the allocation of demerit points have been evaluated by the Road Traffic Infringement Agency.

As the latest document is just a draft, Government is giving all interested parties who have any objections, inputs or comments to lodge them within the next 41 days to AARTO.Comments@dot.gov.za.