The driver's licence point demerit system will be rolled out in 2010, despite concerns from rights groups and metro police, says the Department of Transport.
Following calls by the Justice Project of SA (JPSA) and the National Metropolitan Police Chiefs Forum (NMPCF) earlier this year for the delay of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (Aarto), the department says it is sticking to its 2010 deadline.
In July, the JPSA hijacked the Aarto Web site in protest. This was followed by a report by the NMPCF, which stated that systems were flawed and recommended the department halt the planned nationwide roll-out of the demerit system.
The department says that, while it has studied recommendations and is addressing all concerns, it is still committed to rolling out the system in the next few months.
“The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) will continue with our zero tolerance approach against traffic offenders. We are committed to the implementation of Aarto throughout the country in 2010,” says transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele.
The RTMC is piloting the system in the Tshwane and Johannesburg Metropolitan areas. From 2010, when the demerit point system is implemented, the demerits will reflect against the driving licence of infringing motorists on the National Contravention Register, on eNatis.
law enforcement being the key focus. The demerit point system may lead to the suspension and ultimately to the cancellation of a driver's licence.
Many concerns
The RTMC previously announced that concerns about the Aarto point demerit system would be addressed and that the system would be implemented throughout the country in 2010.
During the pilot, the RTMC identified problems within the law enforcement, systems and procedure environments that existed before Aarto was launched. These included postal processes, lack of infrastructure, electronic versus physical enforcements, office administrative resources, skills development and training of authorised officers, and communication and marketing awareness strategies.
The NMPCF report lists additional problems, which include eNatis's handling of payments, the unlawful issuing of fines and several transgressions of the Aarto Act.
Ndebele says all the limitations in the system would be addressed and the implementation will go ahead on schedule once this has been achieved.
“Aarto will be implemented in 2010. It seeks to create an efficient road traffic management environment in the country, and enhance a culture of compliance through the point demerit system,” says Ndebele.
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