‘Get ready for the demerit system’

Two weeks ago I broke the law and paid the price – one standard licence point for speaking on a cellphone while driving. This is because the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) system is currently on trial in the municipal area of Johannesburg. First implemented as a pilot project in Tshwane in July 2008, Aarto is set to change driver behaviour drastically and increase road safety. While my one solitary subtracted point will be returned to me after the completion of the pilot project, now is the time to take stock and prepare for Aarto, says Wayne Minnaar, spokesman for the Johannesburg Metro Police Department. “At this stage it is just a trial run, but it allows drivers to see how many points they will be losing and to understand the new system. When fining traffic offenders, metro officers are also implementing the demerit system, but at this stage no-one will lose their licence as it is only a pilot project.” With the remainder of Gauteng expected to see implementation of the pilot project by the end of the year, drivers are advised to take note of how many points they lose and what they are being fined for as this will give them a clear indication of what they are up for once the system becomes official in 2010. The principle is simple, explains Minnaar. Every person starts with 0 points and the maximum permissible number of points is 12. In other words, a person is allowed to drive until he/she has 12 points. Every point exceeding 12 points results in a threemonth suspension of the licence. One point is reduced every three months if no further contraventions occur within the threemonth period. A licence is cancelled when it has been suspended for the third time. Aarto, while seemingly harsh, is aimed at addressing habitual road offenders by hitting them where it hurts most – their licences. According to experts, while the system still needs some fine-tuning before it can be implemented fully, there is no doubt that the demerit system is finally a reality.