AARTO – short for the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences – aims to centralise the management of traffic offences across South Africa. It replaces various local traffic-fine systems with a single national platform and introduces a national demerit point system to promote road safety.
AARTO implementation will commence on 1 December 2025, without the demerit point system, and will be phased in across municipalities and metros as per the proclamation signed off by the President.
The National Department of Traffic has identified 1 April 2026 as the date on which implementation of the AARTO Act by Overstrand Municipality should commence.
Preparations are underway, including:
- Training of traffic officers and administrative staff
- Back-office readiness and compliance
- Deployment of IT equipment
- Integration with NaTIS and network connectivity
These steps form part of the planning and rollout process to ensure effective and compliant implementation of this Act in the municipality.
One of the key benefits of the AARTO system is its centralised digital platform. Motorists will be able to view all outstanding fines in one place, see whether discounts apply and pay by making use of an array of accessible methods. Monthly notifications will keep drivers informed about new infringements.
How will it work?
- Every motorist starts with zero demerit points on their licence.
- Demerit points are allocated based on the type of traffic offence committed.
- Accumulating more than 15 points will result in a three-month licence suspension for each point above the limit.
- Two or more suspensions will lead to full cancellation of the driver’s licence, obliging the motorist to go through the entire licensing process – beginning with getting a learner’s licence – yet again.
- Minor infringements, such as low-level speeding, may result in the loss of one to two points.
- Serious offences, like ignoring a stop sign, disobeying traffic lights or having a missing number plate, typically carry two demerit points.
- The rules also apply to vehicle operator cards, not just individual driver’s licences.
