Concerns about the impending point demerit system have been addressed and the project will be implemented in 2010, as scheduled, says the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
Following the hijacking of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (Aarto) Web site last week, in protest by the Justice Project SA (JPSA), the traffic body says it has resolved issues which were raised by the rights group.
Last week, anyone trying to log into the Aarto Web site was redirected to GreedFines.co.za, which featured a banner that read: "Greed Fines - Not Speed Fines!"
The RTMC initially released a statement saying problems were caused by an “administrative error”, but later admitted the site had been bought by the JPSA. The JPSA later stated it had bought the Web domain from the RTMC to force the traffic body to listen to its complaints about the points demerit system. It claimed the RTMC's lease had expired and was not renewed in time.
In a statement, the RTMC says it is “heartened by the co-operation it received from JPSA”, and motorists can now access information on Aarto and the planned points demerit system.
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.
Aarto is facilitated by the RTMC to ensure the functioning of its systems and processes, with 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.
While declining to go into details of the agreement reached with the JPSA, the traffic body says all concerns by the rights group have been taken into consideration.
“We were able to establish a good working relationship not only focusing on Aarto, but also on a range of traffic management issues. We have managed to agree on the key strategic objective of ensuring efficient mechanisms to address maladministration within traffic law enforcement.”
No worries
JPSA, which carried out the attack, has been campaigning to stop all manned speed cameras. Among the concerns listed by the JPSA are that manned cameras are illegal and pose a hazard to road users.
The RTMC noted it's confident the results of the pilot will ensure the successful roll-out of the project. The main objective of the pilot was to test the applicable systems, forms, processes and procedures, and to assess their impact on operations.
The RTMC notes the results of the pilot would then be used to assess the efficacy of all systems, identify weaknesses and address them - prior to engaging the national roll-out.
The traffic body adds that the implementation of Aarto will be beneficial and there are no doubts it will improve law enforcement. Infringements will be recorded on a central contraventions register and will be visible online, in real-time to traffic authorities all over the country. Cancelled or suspended driving licences will be recorded immediately and the information made available to traffic officials enabling them to act swiftly, the body says.
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