The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act that was expected to come into effect on 1 July 2021, will now be rolled out in a phased approach over the next twelve months. The rollout is expected to take a minimum of a year, with demerits and rehabilitation for bad drivers expected to come into effect between July 2022 and June 2023.
According to Lebogang Gaoaketse, WesBank Head of Marketing and Communication, AARTO remains in principle a much-needed initiative, the purpose of which is to promote safe driving and significantly reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities on our roads.
“It is well known that most road accidents are preceded in some form or another by a road traffic transgression, so improving our attitudes and behaviour on the road is indeed a matter of extreme importance. The AARTO Act aims to do just that,” says Gaoaketse.
Road traffic injuries and road offences place a massive strain on national economies, but they also have an enormous effect on households
– Lebogang Gaoaketse, WesBank Head of Marketing and Communication
Many road incidents are avoidable, and history provides us with evidence that the right interventions can make a substantial positive impact. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) – each year, more than 1.3 million people are killed on roads worldwide, and as many as 50 million are injured. It forecasts that there will be almost 1.8 million traffic fatalities annually by 2030.
We encourage road users to please abide by the rules of the road and by so doing, to play a much-needed and positive role in improving safety on our roads
– LEBOGANG GAOAKETSE, WESBANK HEAD OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION
“Not only do road traffic injuries and road offences place a massive strain on national economies, but they also have an enormous effect on households. Families may be driven into debt by the loss of a sole income earner in the household, the expenses of prolonged medical care, or the added pressure of caring for a family member who may be disabled as the result of a road traffic injury. The costs also impose significant impact on the health, insurance, and legal systems, and overwhelming sadness and economic consequences to families,” says Gaoaketse.
When the demerit system comes into play, drivers will run the risk of having their drivers’ licences suspended. If they continue to break the rules, they may be required to redo their learners’ and drivers’ licences. In extreme cases they will be permanently banned from driving. Under the AARTO Act, fines will also be significantly increased in an effort to deter drivers from breaking the rules.
“While there have been delays, we support the principles of AARTO. We encourage road users to please abide by the rules of the road and by so doing, to play a much-needed and positive role in improving safety on our roads,” says Gaoaketse.
