BREAK THE RULES AND YOU'LL LOSE YOUR LICENCE

March 26, 2009
By Denis Droppa

The much-delayed Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences - the "points system" - was implemented in Johannesburg in February after running on a pilot basis in Tshwane since July 2008.

It will be rolled out across Gauteng during 2009 and nationally by February 2010.

Drivers have will have a reprieve in that the points demerit system will start only in 2010 when the national rollout is complete.

The accumulated points will meanwhile still reflect on the traffic fine, showing drivers how many points they would have accumulated had the system been in place.

Every driver will start with a 12-point "credit" a year on their licence and points will be deducted for every traffic violation. If the credit is exhausted that licence will be suspended for three months. Three suspensions and the licence will be cancelled and its owner will have to re-apply for one.

However, if drivers remain penalty-free at the end of the year, the next year will have an additional 12 points as well as a bonus point.

Drivers who pay their fine within 32 days will get a 50 percent discount.

For more information on Aarto contact the call centre on 011 836-0166 or visit the words here. Aarto website.

Bad driving and traffic incidents can be reported to the Road Traffic Management Corporation's call centre on 0861 400 800. - Star Motoring

THE POINTS YOU'LL LOSE AND FINES YOU'LL GET

Failing to keep left or encroaching on the right half of a roadway - 3 points and R1000 fine
Not ensuring all occupants wear their seat belt - 0 demerit points and R250.
Vehicle not fitted with seat belts - 1 point and R500.
Carrying a person for reward in the goods department - 3 and R1000.
Motor vehicle displaying no number plates - 6 points and court.
Going straight in a turning-only lane - 1 point and R500.
Not yielding at a roundabout - 1 point and R500.
Not yielding right of way at a traffic island - 2 points and R750.
Illegal U-turn - 1 point and R500.
Pedestrian crossing road illegally - R100.
Not yielding to a pedestrian at a pedestrian crossing - 1 point and R500.
Jumping a red light - 2 points and R750.
Accelerating while being overtaken - 3 points and R1 000.
Failure to indicate when turning or changing lanes - 1 point and R500.
Keeping unsafe following distance - 3 points and R1 000.
Not giving way to an emergency vehicle - 1 point and R500.
Driving on a pavement - 1 point and R500.
Operating a cellphone without a hands-free kit - 1 point and R500.
Performing a wheelie on a motorcycle - 0 points and R250.
Spinning your wheels - 3 points and R1 000.
Tow-truck driver removing vehicle from accident scene without permission - 2 points and R750.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs - 6 points, no option of admission-of-guilt fine.
Operating a vehicle without a licence - 4 points and R1250.
Not having driver's licence in possession while driving - 1 point and R500.
Failing to switch on motorcycle's lights during day - 0 points and R250.
Failing to switch on motorcycle's lights during night - 2 points and R750.
Using foglamps in good visibility - 2 points and R750.
Organising a race/sport on a public road without permission - 3 points and R1000.

SPEEDING IN 60KM/H ZONE
71-75km/h - 0 demerit points and R250
76-80km/h - 1 demerit point and R500
81-85km/h - 2 demerit points and R750
86-90km/h - 3 demerit points and R1 000
91-95km/h - 4 demerit points and R1 250
96-100km/h - 5 demerit points and R1 500
100+km/h in a 60 zone - 6 demerit points, no option of admission-of-guilt fine.

The same scale applies to other speed zones, starting with R250 for 10-15km/h over the speed limit, with the admission-of-guilt limit set at 40km/h over the speed limit. Faster than that and you must appear in court.