Overstrand’s seven senior traffic officers successfully completed their training for the new Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) system.

The course consisted of different modules covering the administrative procedures, purpose of the legislation, demerit points, discounts, and a list of all the offences and infringements impacted by the legislation.

The rest of the traffic officers will start their training soon, in order to be ready before the Aarto system is introduced in the Overstrand on 1 January 2022. The points demerit system will be introduced nationally by 1 July 2022.

The single most important aspect of Aarto is the introduction of driver demerit points for offences committed. Failure to adhere to Aarto rules should result in driving licence and vehicles suspensions or cancellation of licences or professional driving permits.

It will especially have an impact on people who drive for a living in South Africa.

Traffic offences such as speeding have been removed from the Criminal Procedure Act and will become the responsibility of the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) to manage South Africa’s road safety and driver compliance. Serious offences including drunk driving and reckless or negligent driving will still be prosecuted criminally.