Road Ahead Freight into Africa 926
AARTO raises the stakes - why drinking and driving is now a business-critical risk
South Africa’s Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) demerit system changes how traffic rules are enforced. In the past, companies and drivers often treated traffic fines as minor costs.
The new system changes this by attaching real, immediate consequences to poor driving. At the heart of this change is Driving Under the Influence (DUI), which now brings severe risks for both everyday drivers and business fleets.
Under AARTO, every driver starts with zero points. Points build up with every traffic offence and exceeding 15 demerit points results in a licence suspension of three months for every point above the threshold, meaning any points over 15 add another three months of suspension per point. Because a DUI offence can result in six demerit points, a driver who already has accumulated points from other offences could quickly find themselves facing licence suspension.
For private drivers, losing a licence creates immediate chaos and unexpected costs. Getting to work, taking children to school, and doing daily chores suddenly require help from family or expensive trips using e-hailing services.
Getting to work, taking children to school, and doing daily chores suddenly require help from family or expensive trips using e-hailing services.
For businesses, the consequences can be even more significant. When a staff member who drives for a living loses a licence, that individual can no longer perform core duties. Because this is a legal issue caused by driver misconduct, the employer may have to navigate complex HR processes to reassign work or start dismissal proceedings.
Simply ignoring the suspension and letting an employee drive is not an option. Driving with a suspended licence is a criminal offence that can lead to arrest and jail time. For the employer, allowing an unlicensed or suspended driver to operate a vehicle could result in the insurer declining a claim or repudiating cover, depending on the policy terms. If an accident happens, the company could pay for all damages and claims out of pocket.
The demerit system does not only target individual drivers; it also applies to the operating cards attached to business vehicles. If a commercial vehicle accumulates too many demerit points, the operating card is suspended, keeping that vehicle off the road for three months per extra point.
Grounding a delivery truck or fleet vehicle can create significant financial consequences. Even when a vehicle sits idle in a yard making no money, the business still has to pay monthly vehicle finance, insurance premiums, and depreciation. Trying to run a vehicle with a suspended operating card will result in cancelled insurance claims and direct criminal charges against the company.
Even when a vehicle sits idle in a yard making no money, the business still has to pay monthly vehicle finance, insurance premiums, and depreciation.
Combining clear policies with reliable testing tools and strict administrative oversight is the most effective way for businesses to protect fleet assets, keep insurance valid, and avoid the heavy penalties of the AARTO system.
Rhys Evans, Managing Director of ALCO-Safe