Truckers will need a back-up plan when Aarto is launched

The Road Freight Association is advising its members to gear up for the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) which it says is expected to be implemented in September this year. “We have not had official notice about this from government, but we believe it will come into effect around September,” said RFA technical and operations manager, Gavin Kelly. Aarto has been on the cards for South Africa since 1998, with government insisting that the points demerit system will increase road safety drastically. In its latest communiqué, the Department of Transport said the new system would be rolled out across the country sometime in the 2011/12 financial year. Having been piloted in Johannesburg and Tshwane, the system has created much confusion, said Kelly. “There are many myths still doing the rounds for – example that one is credited with 12 points or has a choice between a fine and a point. Not only do you not start with 12 points, you also have no choice. In some instances you will be fined and get a point while in other cases you will just be fined.” He said the points demerit system would not be implemented for at least another few years. “Even if Aarto is rolled out in September, it will be without the points demerit system. The point system can only be implemented if the entire country is on track, as each person has to be treated equally under the law. Also the minister has to declare in a government gazette when the points are being made operative and every authority in the country will have to be on the system before it can become operational.” In the meantime he said it was important that companies geared up for the system and started by implementing a database for all drivers as well as vehicles. “You will need to implement a back-up plan for suspended drivers and vehicles as well as have a plan for stand-by drivers in case a driver is suspended and not allowed to drive any more.” A more refined pre-trip inspection will have to be done, as Aarto will be very strict on vehicle penalties. “An example is that Aarto allows for the fining of a vehicle for each offence – so each serial number of each tyre is seen as individual. Therefore a smooth tyre is an offence that counts two points. If you have seven of your 20 tyres fined for being smooth at one stop, the vehicle licence is immediately cancelled and it is taken off the road as you have passed the 12-point limit.”