SA Driver Demerit System - What you need to Know

The South African Driver Demerit System has taken years to be implemented and is now in full swing since 01 April 2016. 

AARTO stands for the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act, Act 46 of 1998 and has been designed to encourage law-abiding, safe driving behaviour to reduce road accidents. AARTO will also effectively deal with all non-payments of traffic fines because drivers who don’t pay their fines won’t be able to renew their driver’s licences. Drivers who pay their fines within 32 days automatically get a 50% deduction. 

The Arrive Alive website explains the system as follows:

• The driver starts with zero points (no matter how many classes of vehicle licence you hold).
• Whenever you commit an infringement or offence, you will receive points (or demerits). The severity of the offence determines the number of points you receive. For example, driving an unlicensed vehicle will earn you one point. The points are registered to your name on the date you pay your fine or are convicted of an offence.
• The maximum number of points that you can reach is 12. As soon as you get 13 points or more, your licence is suspended.
• Your period of suspension is one month for each point over 12 multiplied by three. For example, if you receive 15 points, your license will be suspended for nine months (3×3=9).
• If you drive well and don’t commit any offences, you qualify for a reduction in demerit points. Demerit points are reduced at a flat rate of one demerit point per three months. For example, if you have two points on your licence and you don’t commit any offences for six months, both points will be removed.

How will the Points Demerit System work?

The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system will be implemented and managed by the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA). 

Know your Point Demerit System

The Points Demerit system can be explained as follows:

• Each driver will start out with zero points (irrespective of the number of classes of vehicle licences held);
• Points are allocated according to infringements or offences committed (there are different values for different infringements and offences);
• Points are incurred (allocated) on the date a penalty (fine) is paid or when the person is convicted of the offence (as the case may be);
• Operators receive points separately from their drivers (ie a transport company receives points allocated to the operators permit);
• When you reach 13 points and more, the licence (and / or operator card) is suspended with effect from 32 days after the maximum points (12) have been reached;
• The suspension period is calculated in months equal to the number of points exceeding 12, multiplied by three (or such number as may be prescribed by the Minister of Transport);
• The number of points (demerits) added will depend on the severity of the offence;
• The driver / operator may apply for the return of the licence on expiry of the suspension (disqualification) period;
• A driver / operator who is disqualified for the third time will permanently loose the licence / operator card and will have to reapply for testing and issue (as if a first time licence / operator applicant) after expiry of the disqualification period;
• Demerit points will be reduced (for all persons / operators) at a flat rate of one point per every three months (or as otherwise prescribed), except in the case where evidence points to the fact that the process has been deliberately delayed to obtain a reduction in points.

For more details about the demerit system and how points are allocated for offences, please visit - https://arrivealive.co.za/Demerit-System