AARTO and Road Safety

?RTIA Vision

The RTIA`s vision is to have an informed, compliant and safe road user community.

RTIA Mission

The mission is to encourage compliance with road traffic laws in SA through:

1. Targeted road user and community education & community programmes;
2. Promotion of procedurally fair, lawful & reasonable administrative adjudication;
3. Levying of penalties;
4. Imposing demerit points;
5. Effective administration & management of the suspension, cancellation of driving licenses & operator's cards; and
6. Rewarding compliant road users.

Establishment of the RTIA

• Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act, 1998 (Act No. 46 of 1998) (AARTO Act)
• Sec. 3 of the Act, establishes the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA)
• AARTO Act is currently being implemented in Gauteng Province (JMPD, TMPD, GDoCS and RTMC)
• AARTO was initially a functional unit within the RTMC
• The RTIA was officially established during 2010/2011
• RTIA has its own Board and Head Office based in Midrand

Taking Over of AARTO Functions

• AARTO Functions were previously located at the RTMC
• The RTIA took over the AARTO functions from the RTMC during Oct 2013
• Regulations amendment were effected removing the RTMC from performing AARTO functions
• The RTIA is entirely responsible for AARTO also working with IAs and other keys stakeholder
• AARTO is implemented by Issuing Authorities and managed by the RTIA

Road Traffic Challenges

• None compliance with road traffic laws leading to high number of crashes and fatalities
• Authorities are using different systems for law enforcement. (All 8 provinces still on CPA)
• Low or none payment of traffic fines without consequences
• Offenders from other jurisdictions get away with traffic crimes.
• No follow up are made for traffic offences committed.
• Traffic crimes not a priority at courts.
• No real punitive measures to deter infringers/offenders.
• The current system is inadequate & does not prioritise traffic offences.

AARTO Objectives

Objective of the Act are to:

• encourage voluntary compliance to road traffic laws;
• Comes with automatic 50 % discount within 32 days
• encourage payment of penalties;
• establish procedure for effective & expeditious adjudication of road traffic infringements;
• alleviate the burden on courts;
• AARTO forges an efficient and effective link between enforcement and adjudication of road traffic violation

AARTO Objectives Cont..

• change driver/operator behaviour;
• penalise habitual infringers through suspension of driving license/operator cards;
• penalise infringers through the allocation of demerit points; and
• reward good behaviour through the reduction of demerit points
• Partnering with insurance companies may have benefits on low insurance premiums for motorists/operators

Benefits of AARTO to IAs

• Compliance to road traffic laws resulting in reduction in crashes and fatalities
• Once Infringements are issued by IAs, the responsibility of follow-up lies with RTIA
• The RTIA pays for sending out Courtesy Letters and Enforcement Orders to infringers
• The RTIA also has a Unit specifically, dealing with collection of outstanding penalties (including fleet owners)
• Enforcement Orders compel motorists/operators to eventually pay and therefore no revenue loss for IAs

AARTO Process and Manner of Serving

It all starts with a traffic violation followed by an infringement notice in the form of

• AARTO 01 - At the road side.
• AARTO 02 - At the road side- already recorded on the system (NCR).
• AARTO 31 - Placed on vehicles windscreen.
• AARTO 03 - By registered mail to registered owner of motor vehicle.

AARTO PROCESS AND OPTIONS

Enforcement Order Stage

• Apply for Revocation of Enforcement Order or Full Payment

Courtesy Letter Stage

• Submit a representation Arrange for instalments Elect to be tried in Cour. Full penalty and fee now due

Infringement Notice Stage

• Submit a representation
• Arrange for instalments Elect to be tried in Court
• Pay penalty and qualify for 50% discount Nominate a driver

Criminal Procedure Act and AARTO Act

Engagement of Key Stakeholders

• The RTIA continuously engaged with key stakeholders on AARTO processes
• During mid 2013, the first round of provincial engagements was initiated by the RTIA meeting with all provinces and municipalities on AARTO
• The second round of provincial engagements started early 2014 meeting with all provinces and municipalities

Engagement of Key Stakeholders cont…

• Some of the key stakeholders engaged on AARTO include the following:
  • SALGA at National and Gauteng
  • SAPS at National and Gauteng
  • DLTCs in Gauteng and KZN
  • Vehicle Fleet Operators
  • Vehicle Rental Companies
• At National level, the AARTO National Task Team meets on quarterly basis where provinces and some metros represented
• At provincial level, through AARTO Provincial Task Teams

Payments of AARTO Notices

• Motorists and Operators can pay for AARTO notices in any province around the country
• Payments of penalties from IAs, DLTCs , SAPO and RAs are made directly on to the NCR
• Payments made at major banks and other payment platforms are made directly into the AARTO Bank Accounts
• Collecting Agents pay (retain the collection fee) the penalty fees into the AARTO Bank Account on monthly basis

Progress to date

• Final Readiness Assessment commissioned by the RTIA completed
• Ongoing engagements at Provincial and Municipal municipalities Level
• Ongoing engagements at AARTO National Task Team Level
• Presentation on Progress made to COTO and MINMEC
• Recently the Minister and Deputy Minister pronounced on the implementation of AARTO countrywide by 01 April 2016
• AARTO Provincial Road Shows will take place in all provinces
• Final preparations for full implementation of AARTO

Download the pdf:

Also View:

Demerit System, AARTO and Road Safety

Know your Point Demerit System

RTIA