Driving Rules

Image by Flickr

Drivers alert: Government is introducing new driving rules from October

There is a new structure of driving rules. The AARTO system, which works with performance points, could result in licence card cancellations.

Driving Rules

Image by Flickr

The new driving rules have been developed and communicated by The Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) on 1 October 2021. In a nutshell, it will all be about monitored driving behaviour.

The project started on a smaller scale with phase 1 in July 2021, before RTIA confirmed there has been enough progress to launch a national rollout of the system called phase 2 on Friday 01 October.

THE NEW DRIVING RULES SYSTEM

The structure is called the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) system. Drivers and fleet operators will be at risk of losing performance points when found guilty. The punishments might include suspension or cancellation of licenses, professional driving permits, or operator cards.

“The demerit point system will provide for an easy and objective mechanism of identifying habitual infringers so that the applicable penalties can be imposed,” Minister of Transport Joe Maswanganyi said.

“Those that continue to break the laws will find themselves ultimately losing their driving licences through suspensions and cancellations of their driver’s licenses.”

PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2 OF THE AARTO

The transport authority said Phase 1 of the Aarto, which started in July until September 2021, saw the RTIA increase its national footprint through the launch of seven service outlets and digital services such as the Aarto website and the rollout of the Aarto mobile application.

As then there is Phase 2 coming up next. Phase 2 will run between October and December 2021, where the Aarto system will come online in 67 local and metropolitan municipal areas.

“Phase 1, from July to September 2021, has seen the RTIA increase its national footprint through the implementation of seven (7) AARTO service outlets and online services such as the AARTO website and deployment of the AARTO mobile application,” RTIA said.

“Phase 2 in the period between October and December 2021 will witness the proclamation of the AARTO Act 46, of 1998 as amended in 67 Local and Metropolitan Municipal Areas coming online with the AARTO process.

“This is accompanied by the appointment of the independent Appeals Tribunal and the introduction of electronic service of documents. Implementation partners in the AARTO value chain are all on board as the preparations for the full-scale national rollout are intensifying.”