NRSP supports a point system
As the completion and implementation of AARTO draws nearer, concern over the intended process has been raised by numerous road safety institutions. The National Road Safety Project (NRSP) agrees that while some issues need to be reassessed, this is no reason to dismiss the act all together.
As a country with a high road fatality rate, it is clear that a new, more effective approach to curbing bad driving behaviours needs to be implemented. The NRSP says: “We must not forget that the ultimate goal of AARTO is to reduce the incident of dangerous driving with the threat of very real and significant consequences. As a result, the driving in South Africa should improve as a whole and there should be a meaningful reduction in road fatalities.
“A point system in many European countries has proven to be the most effective means to dropping the crash statistics in those regions. Thus, AARTO does need further discussion and deliberation in South Africa to reach a successful implementation that accounts for the country’s unique characteristics but abandoning the legislation all together, as some organisations have suggested, is not in the best interests of our citizens.”
The key to reducing road fatalities lies in determining why the current system is not working to the desired level. “The first way that AARTO has greater potential to work than the current system is by having penalties that could have a major impact on one’s life. If drivers face the threat of losing their licenses, there is more motivation to avoid speeding fines or other infringements than what a financial penalty alone may inspire.
“A point system could allow us to move away from the prevailing attitude that currently exists in South Africa where drivers may be willing to sacrifice money in exchange for speeding or other bad driving behaviours. Now, a removal of the license, that many people may need to operate in their daily lives, is also on the line.”
If properly implemented, AARTO could help South Africa see the necessary change on our roads. “We recognise that there are some challenges and that it could be construed that some aspects are flawed, however, if implemented properly there is potential for change. While there are some obstacles to overcome, South Africans should not dismiss the legislation but rather see this potential,” says the NRSP.
