demerit system Archives - Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Follow the rules to avoid losing your licence

vuyi on July 14, 2021

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.

Here’s What You Need To Know bout The AARTO Roll-Out

vuyi on July 5, 2021

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has announced a phased-in approach to the roll-out of AARTO but these phases can only be implemented once the regulations are finalized and enacted – a process which may delay the final implementation of the system scheduled for July 2022.

Government has heeded calls to clarify issues relating to the implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offenses (AARTO) but says no real roll-out of the system can occur until the system’s regulations are promulgated.

It is critical every road user in the country understands the implications of the suspension and cancellation of licenses due to non-compliant behaviour with road traffic laws.
Fikile Mbalula, Transport Minister

Minister Mbalula says there are four phases to the AARTO roll-out as follows:

Phase 1 will run from today until 30 September 2021 during which seven AARTO service outlets will be established nationally, the eNATIS will be enabled to collect AARTO payments, and will include a communications campaign to educate motorists on AARTO;
Phase 2 will run from 1 October to 31 December 2021 during which 67 local metropolitan authorities will ‘come online’ for AARTO processing, the adjudication process and Appeals Tribunal will start functioning, 18 more AARTO service outlets will be established;
Phase 3 will commence on 1 January 2022 and run until 30 June 2022 during which 144 municipal areas will be added to the AARTO system, and;
Phase 4 which will begin 1 July 2022 and which will see the introduction of the Points Demerit System as well as the rehabilitation programme for repeat offenders which serves as the backbone of AARTO.

“By the time we reach this milestone, there will be no excuse among our road users that they do not understand the implications and consequences of the AARTO process,” said Mbalula.

“Considering the significant impact the points demerit system will have on the public, it is critical intensive public awareness and education campaigns are intensified to ensure every road user in the country understands the implications of the suspension and cancellation of licences due to non-compliant behaviour with road traffic laws,” he said.

We must be mindful that AARTO is being introduced to save lives, and if you are compliant with all road traffic laws you have nothing to worry about.
FIKILE MBALULA, TRANSPORT MINISTER

“We must be mindful that AARTO is being introduced to save lives, and if you are compliant with all road traffic laws you have nothing to worry about. SA has to remain true to the commitments made to the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021—2030. We have made a commitment to arresting the carnage on our roads and committed to reimagine our approach to road safety and making sure our people arrive alive when using our roads.”

Road users will be able to view and query their fines on the AARTO website or the AARTO mobile app, where they can nominate the driver of the vehicle, apply for representation, apply for a revocation of an enforcement order, or arrange to pay their fines in instalments up to a period of six months.

Strict Motoring Rules For 2020

vuyi on March 8, 2020

Motorists will soon have to adjust their driving style in order to keep our of trouble with the law!

Two major traffic laws come into effect in June 2020, according to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula. These are the new Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act as well as a new zero-tolerance approach to drinking and driving.

0% ALCOHOL LIMIT

Initially discussed in November 2019, Minister Mbalula has confirmed that motorists will no longer be permitted to mix alcohol and driving whatsoever. Simply put, a 0% legal blood-alcohol limit will be effected meaning that the presence of even the smallest trace of alcohol detected in anyone operating a motor vehicle will be illegal.

At present, South African legal limit is 0.05% and drivers who adhere to the stipulated alcohol unit permissible have been considered a within the legal alcohol limits. The new law however does away with this completely from June 2020.

According to Police Minister Bheki Cele, over 24, 000 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol over the 2019/2020 festive season, a figure which translated to clost to one-third of all road related arrests made over the holiday period. This clearly shows just how dire the problem of drunk driving in our country is.

AARTO

In addition to the zero tolerance for alcohol law, Minister Mbalula also confirmed that June 2020 will see the introduction of the AARTO system, in which all traffic fines dispensed throughout the country will carry the same penal value.

That said, not all infringements will result in demerit points as roughly half of the violations laid out in Schedule 3 of the AARTO regulations do not bear any demerit points at all.

The AARTO system stipulates that a drier may incur no more than 12-demerit points on their license. Should a driver incur a 13^thpoint however, their license, would be suspended for a period of 3-months per every point over the 12 points ‘allowed’.

In spite of the criticism from organizations such as the AA and OUTA, Minister Mbalula remains undeterred and strongly warns motorists to prepare themselves for the introduction of the demerit system.

“We are going live. We take points. We take away your driver’s license. The President has signed this into law and now we are implementing it,” he said.