AARTO concerns unresolved ahead of April roll-out

The Road Freight Association is keeping a close eye on the proposed roll-out of AARTO, with the Department of Transport indicating that the points demerit system will take effect by no later than April next year. According to Gavin Kelly, spokesman for the RFA, the organisation has participated extensively in the public commentary process around the demerit system. “The Association has submitted various comments on the points and offences and tabled members’ concerns regarding the administration of the system,” he told FTW. “It has also highlighted the implications this system will have on drivers who receive demerits in their private capacity and therefore will no longer be deemed fit for duty. This has been communicated to both government and unions.” Kelly said these concerns had yet to be addressed in the system. Experts maintain that unless government takes note of these issues and addresses them, implementation of AARTO and the subsequent demerit system will be f lawed. “AARTO stemmed from two issues,” said Kelly. “The first is that there was no completion in the cycle of arresting alleged offenders and dealing with them, and the second was an attempt at one-on-one contact between law enforcement and the public.” AARTO was also seen by government as a means of taking certain road offences out of the criminal court and easing that pressure on the justice system. The legislation around AARTO was passed in 1998, but it has yet to be rolled out country-wide nearly two decades later. “AARTO relies on a unified traffic force and a thorough data base,” said Kelly. “This is where the challenges for this legislation started and continue to this day. There are serious questions around how this will affect law enforcement in the country and how they are going to implement it. We are keeping a very close eye on this and any new developments that arise.”