The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) is one of those Acts that has occupied the public interest at high levels and waned just as quickly when it seemed there was ‘much ado about nothing’.
And now AARTO is back. Amended extensively in 2019, Aarto is due to be implemented in the coming months.
To shed light on the intricacies of Aarto and its far-reaching implications, MasterDrive will host a webinar titled “Insights into Aarto” on 15 February.
The webinar will comprehensively explore and unpack the Act, providing clarity on its provisions and addressing concerns related to driver control, a pressing issue for many companies.
“The responsibilities of operators and owners of company vehicles, where they will be charged for unroadworthy vehicles, overloaded vehicles and unlicensed drivers, is a concern for fleet owners,” said transport expert Alta Swanepoel, who is presenting at the webinar.
“The operators will not be getting demerit points for these infringements, but they will receive penalties.”
The webinar is tailored for proxies and representatives of companies handling traffic fine management, responsible managers ensuring compliance with legislation, and anyone grappling with regular traffic offences.
MasterDrive managing director Eugene Herbert underscored the importance of safe driving and upskilling.
“Hosting a webinar on Aarto aligns with our business philosophy - contributing to safer roads for all South Africans, by imparting knowledge about the Act.
“Our focus is on making a difference, one day, one kilometre, one life at a time,” Herbert said.
The Aarto Act addresses three main areas: the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) and the provisions relating to the authority, the Aarto procedures and notices, as well as the demerit points that apply.
Companies need to understand the impact of Aarto on their drivers, other employees who rely on a valid driving licence, vehicle roadworthiness, human resources requirements, policies on incapacity due to non-compliance, requirements for permission on demerit point information and more.
“MasterDrive is hosting this Aaarto webinar to explain the main principles of Aarto, demerit points, detailed forms and other issues,” Swanepoel said.
The webinar will also include a panel discussion with input from the following industry experts:
- Sandile Ntseoane, General Manager at The Southern African Vehicle Renting & Leasing Association (Savrala)
- Pamela Ramagaga, General Manager: Insurance Risks at The South African Insurance Association (Saia) and
- Brandon Cohen, Chairperson at National Automobile Dealers’ Association (Nada).
Join the webinar to learn more about how to work with the new Act, rather than against it.
Register for your virtual attendance by clicking on the following link: “Insights into Aarto”.