The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Bill has been signed into law by president Cyril Ramaphosa.<\/p>\n
The legislation has been designed to change driving behaviour through the implementation of a demerit system, in Johannesburg and Tshwane.<\/p>\n
Each driver will start off with zero points. The maximum permissible number of points is 12. Points work on an accumulative basis with a different number of points assigned to specific traffic infringements, together with a fine.<\/p>\n
If a driver accumulates 12 or more points, their licence will be suspended for a period of three months.<\/p>\n
One point is reduced every three months if no further violations occur within the three-month period, but should a driver exceed three suspensions, they could lose their licence permanently, Wesbank pointed out.<\/p>\n
A licence can be cancelled if it has been suspended for a third time.<\/p>\n
What are the points allocated to?<\/strong><\/p>\n These are some of the traffic offences that could increase your demerit points:<\/p>\n “The new demerit points system is similar to what is already in use in several European countries and has been adapted for South African road users,” Wesbank said.<\/p>\n “A driver\/operator who is disqualified for the third time will permanently lose the license\/operator card and will have to reapply for testing, as if they were a first-time license\/operator applicant.<\/p>\n “The new system will also prevent you from renewing your drivers and\/or vehicle licence if you do not pay your traffic fines.”<\/p>\n\n
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