Revisions to South Africa’s Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) framework have reduced the number of infringement charges and sharpened its focus on driver behaviour, according to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA).
The agency outlined its position amid concerns from the Road Freight Association (RFA) about the system’s complexity and potential impact on freight operations.
Enforcement should prioritise conduct that contributes to crashes, RFA Chief Executive Gavin Kelly told Freight News on the sidelines of the South African Freight and Logistics Association’s Gauteng branch launch.
“Enforcement should concentrate on behaviours directly associated with road crashes as opposed to an unnecessarily complicated list of infringements,” Kelly said.
RTIA Spokesperson Monde Mkalipi said revisions to Schedule 3 of the regulations reduced the number of charges.
“The charges should focus on driver behaviour. That is what is being done now,” Mkalipi told Freight News.
Kelly warned that penalties preventing commercial vehicles from operating could affect businesses’ ability to generate revenue. He called for clear distinctions between the responsibilities of drivers, vehicle owners and operators.
“You can’t give points to a vehicle. Accountability should distinguish between drivers, vehicle owners and operators,” he said.
Mkalipi said the framework seeks to hold drivers accountable for their conduct while ensuring fleet owners also face consequences for allowing defective vehicles onto public roads.
“Nobody should be left immune to the implementation of AARTO,” he said.
Both support a focus on driver behaviour and accountability for vehicle owners. Kelly questioned whether the system’s complexity and penalties could undermine its purpose while Mkalipi maintained that revisions simplified the framework.
An AARTO enforcement order can block the issuing or renewal of driving licences, professional driving permits and vehicle licence discs until the order has been complied with or revoked. An outstanding infringement notice alone does not trigger this restriction.
Mkalipi said operators have options for responding to infringement notices, including disputing infringements, requesting instalment payments and nominating the responsible driver where appropriate.
