Demerit road safety system postponed

By Khanyisa Tabata
30 June 2010

The Road Traffic Management Corporation together with the Department of Transport has decided to postpone the implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act.

The act was originally set for the metropolitan authorities of Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay and the City of Cape Town on 1 July 2010 and on 1 November 2010 countrywide.

RTMC CEO Collins Letsoalo says the decision to postpone the roll-out, particularly to the metropolitan authorities, is motivated by the need to ensure effective implementation.

“This postponement should not be read as a deviation towards the commitment by the Minister, the Department of Transport and the RTMC towards the achievements of the goals to promote road safety.

“When AARTO was implemented in Tshwane and Johannesburg, some issues that were identified during the pilot for further attention included the need for the strengthening of the communication and education of the general public in order to ensure that all road users and people affected by the system had a full and clear understanding of their rights, duties and obligations and in terms of the AARTO process,” said Letsoalo.

He added that the RTMC reiterates that the decision to postpone was taken without any pressure from anyone.

We reiterate that the AARTO Act is a 12-year-old legislation that is meant to assist in pushing back this attack on the South African population.