AARTO and your short-term insurance what you need to know
By Hugo Du Preez , Manager : Technical Operations PPS Short-Term Insurance
Paying a fine for a traffic infringement is one thing , potentially losing your driver ’ s licence for said infringements , is a completely different matter . Not only could this leave you , or an employee , not able to drive , but it could potentially influence your short-term insurance .
The New
Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences ( Aarto ) Amendment Act is set to be implemented in stages . Once implemented , it includes a demerit system whereby a person , operator or company juristic person , will not only pay a fine but will also incur demerit points when a traffic infringement is committed . This could ultimately lead to your driver ’ s licence being suspended or cancelled .
The concept of a demerit point system to encourage drivers to abide by traffic laws might be new to South Africa , but it is an established practice internationally . Countries such as Australia and the UK have long had such systems in force .
In South Africa , all drivers will start with zero points from
1 July . For every infringement – which includes laws regarding the roadworthiness of a vehicle – demerit points will be allocated . For example , the published guidelines state that if a brake light is not working , one demerit point will be allocated , as well as a fine of R1 000 . Some infringements can lead to up to six demerit points being allocated . The full schedule of the more than 2 500 separate charges can be viewed in the Act .
Drivers will be allowed to accumulate a maximum of 15 demerit points over a threeyear period . Learner drivers , however , will only be allowed a maximum of six points . Should a driver exceed this number , their licence will be suspended for three months . If you drive while your licence is suspended , you will be subject to a fine or even jail time .
The good news is that demerit points decrease by one point every three months . This means that drivers can work their way back to zero points over time .
A licence may be suspended twice , but on the third instance , the licence will be cancelled . The person will then have to apply for a new learner ’ s licence and driver ’ s licence .
When it comes to a vehicle belonging to a company , the demerit system is clear .
First and foremost , companies must keep an accurate record of who the driver of a vehicle is at all times . Should a traffic infringement be recorded , the company must then ensure that the demerits accrue to the correct person , and not the person who is appointed
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