Happy chaps... Abel Charlie, Ranthoko Rakgoale and Chris Ngcobo during the announement of the Aarto roll out.

Nie Cele and Shelley West

Motorists will get a rude awakening when the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) and Points Demerit System is rolled out countrywide from 1 April.

According to the Department of Transport current traffic law enforcement needed to be changed if the country hoped to stop counting the dead on our roads.

“Aarto will improve the mindset of road users and encourage responsible road behaviour,” said Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele. “The objectives of Aarto include penalising drivers and operators who are guilty of infringements or offences by imposing demerit points.

An accumulation will lead to suspension and eventual cancellation of driving licences, professional driving permits or operator cards.”

Ndebele said preliminary reports showed more than 1 100 deaths were recorded on South Africa’s roads between 1 and 31 December. Between 1 and 6 January, 103 fatalities were recorded. “Claims that road fatality statistics were fixed are ludicrous” said Ndebele.

“The number of deaths on our roads is unacceptable and one death is one too many. What would we achieve by fiddling with statistics?”

Ndebele said the department released official road accident and death statistics through the Road Traffic Management Corporation. “These are verified with the South African Police Service before release.”

Ndebele called on more organisations and individuals to actively partner with government in addressing road carnage.

“Road Safety Forums will soon be part of every municipality in the country and we want as many stakeholders as possible to participate in these forums.”

Ndebele said there was no room on the roads for self-interest.”Whether you are a driver, passenger, pedestrian, vehicle owner or traffic law enforcer, accountability, consideration and vigilance save lives.”

citybeat@caxton.co.za

How the system will work

• This system is a copycat of the Australian system.

• Each driver will start out with zero points.

• Points are allocated according to infringements or offences committed.

• Points are allocated on the date a fine is paid or when the person is convicted of the offence.

• Operators receive points separately from their drivers.

• After the maximum points (12) have been reached, the licence and/or operator card is suspended 32 days.

• The suspension period is calculated in months equal to the number of points exceeding 12 multiplied by three.

• The number of points/demerits added will depend on the severity of the offence.

• The driver/operator may apply for the return of the licence on expiry of the suspension period.

• A driver/operator who is disqualified for the third time will permanently loose the licence/operator card, and will have to reapply for testing and issue after expiry of the disqualification period.

• Demerit points will be reduced at a rate of one point per three months that a driver complies with the rules of the road.