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.”