The Automobile Association has penned an open letter to new transport minister, Fikile Mbalula, pointing to a number of areas that need urgent attention – including the new demerit system.<\/p>\n
“The AA believes in a points-based system, and the original concept is good. It will punish the bad, warn the middle, and leave the good,” it said.<\/p>\n
The association warned however, that the system in its current form \u2013 if implemented \u2013 will not in any way reshape the country\u2019s roads to become safer – one of the original benefits.<\/p>\n
“Instead, this system seems to have morphed into a better way for revenue collection by authorities, with no regard for safety or proper application of laws. The implementation of AARTO should be prioritised but weighed against a review of its original objectives,” the AA said.<\/p>\n
The association said that law enforcement on the country’s roads remains splintered, uncoordinated, and largely ineffective.<\/span><\/p>\n “Proper, effective licencing of prospective drivers, a more comprehensive approach to rooting out corruption and bribery at vehicle testing centres, and better application of vehicle roadworthiness is a start,” it said.<\/p>\n “Speeding, cellphone usage while driving, reckless and negligent road behaviour, and disregarding other drivers, are among the main problems.<\/p>\n “Yet these issues seem secondary and less important than checking for expired discs (a task, we believe, which is better managed through the eNATIS licensing system),” it said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n