South African motorists who have their licences suspended or cancelled under the impending Administrative Adjudication of Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act demerit system will be given a second chance.
To regain a withdrawn licence, they will have to face the Driver Rehabilitation Programme to reduce their demerit points, reports MyBroadband.
The course can be completed before suspension, according to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), if an offender’s demerit points are building up and they want to reduce the number of points on their licence.
Completing the course will knock four demerit points off their licence – it takes 15 points before a motorist’s licence is suspended.
Motorists with a suspended licence cannot drive any car and violating the suspension will be treated as a criminal offence.
Motorists who have their licence suspended three times – accumulate more than 15 points on their licence three times – will have their licence cancelled.
In this case, they will be forced to retake their learner’s and driving licence tests.
The Driver Rehabilition Programme comprises several measures that a motorist must complete before they are able to reduce their demerit points.
These include:
- Attending rehabilitation courses
- Completing psychological assessments
- Re-taking the driving test (in some cases)
This will include a “driver simulator test alongside a psychological evaluation to assess cognitive and emotional readiness for driving,” said the RTIA.
Motorists who have had their licence cancelled can apply for the required learner and driving licence test immediately after completing the course or they can wait for the disqualification period to lapse
The test can be completed once per year and also gives motorists who are facing court for their offences a way out.
“NICRO [National Institute for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders] assesses each participant and compiles a report for the court, often leading to case withdrawal resulting in no criminal offence for the offender,” said the RTIA.
This is an attempt to reintegrate offenders into society, it said.
The Driver Rehabilition Programme will also be compulsory for learner drivers with demerit points before they can apply for their full driver’s licence.
Below is a list of the fines and demerit points that will apply to traffic violations once the system is fully implemented.
| Traffic violation | Demerit points | Fine amount |
| Exceeding speed limit by 11-15km/h | 0 | R250 |
| Exceeding speed limit by 16-20km/h | 1 | R500 |
| Exceeding speed limit by 21-25km/h | 2 | R750 |
| Exceeding speed limit by more than 40km/h | 6 | Criminal offence – court hearing |
| Disobeying a stop sign or traffic light | 2 | R750 |
| Failing to use indicators | 1 | R500 |
| Driving without a licence | 4 | R1,250 |
| Driving unregistered vehicle | 3 | R1,000 |
| Driving vehicle without valid licence disc | 3 | R1,000 |
| Driving vehicle with one number plate | 2 | R500 |
| Driving vehicle without number plates | 6 | Criminal offence – court hearing |
| Failing to keep left | 3 | R1,000 |
| Failing to stop at an accident | 6 | Criminal offence – court hearing |
| Driving under the influence | 6 | Criminal offence – court hearing |
| Furnishing false information | 6 | Criminal offence – court hearing |
The AARTO system’s national rollout was initially set for 1 December 2025, but has been delayed until July 2026.
AARTO has faced repeated criticism, with many experts, civil groups, political parties, and unions raising concerns about its long-term viability and calling for it to be scrapped altogether.
Its introduction has been marked by years of legal challenges, problematic legislation and regulations, and flawed implementation plans.
Loading ...
