Drivers could lose licences under AARTO demerit system

South African motorists are being urged to familiarise themselves with the country’s upcoming AARTO demerit system, which could eventually lead to repeat traffic offenders losing their driving licences permanently.

As reported by Briefly, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Amendment Act into law on 1 July 2026, marking another step towards changing how traffic infringements are managed nationwide.

Although the legislation is now officially in force, the demerit points system has not yet been activated. Authorities expect it to be introduced during the fourth phase of the AARTO rollout, which is currently planned for 2027.

How the demerit points system will work

Under the new system, motorists will begin with a clean record of zero demerit points.

Traffic offences will carry between one and six demerit points, depending on the seriousness of the offence. Importantly, points are only recorded after a motorist admits guilt, including when a traffic fine is paid.

According to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), accumulating 16 demerit points will result in a driver’s licence being suspended.

The suspension period also increases depending on how many points exceed the 15-point limit, with every additional point adding three months to the suspension.

Drivers who repeatedly exceed the limit face even tougher consequences. After a third licence suspension, the licence will be permanently cancelled.

Anyone whose licence is cancelled will need to complete a rehabilitation programme before starting the licensing process from the beginning, including rewriting the learner’s and driver’s licence tests.

What about company vehicles?

The RTIA has also clarified how the demerit system will apply to company-owned vehicles and commercial fleets.

Vehicle owners will not automatically receive demerit points for traffic offences committed by someone else driving their vehicle. Instead, businesses, fleet operators and taxi owners will be able to nominate the driver responsible for the infringement so that the demerit points are assigned to the correct person.

A shift towards safer roads

The demerit system forms part of government’s broader efforts to improve road safety and encourage responsible driving.

South Africa continues to record thousands of road crashes each year, particularly during busy holiday periods, with speeding, reckless driving and ignoring traffic signals frequently identified as major contributing factors.

While some motorists have welcomed stricter enforcement, others have raised concerns on social media about whether the system will be implemented fairly and whether administrative processes will be efficient enough to avoid errors when allocating demerit points.

With the system still expected to launch in 2027, motorists have time to familiarise themselves with the new rules before demerit points begin affecting driving records.

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Source: Briefly