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[ RULES OF THE ROAD ] AARTO amendment bill

There could be a big change on the horizon for motorists.

The National Assembly has passed the latest Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) amendment bill.

The bill aims to introduce new road traffic violation rules, removing the courts from the AARTO process and replacing them with a dedicated authority.

And if passed, it’s going to affect you in several ways.

Chief among these is the introduction of the ‘Demerit System’ that has been in the legislative pipeline since 1998. Contrary to what some may tell you, it will not be replacing the current fines system. Instead, it’s an additional measure that aims at rewarding good drivers and punishing repeat offenders.

The bill is just a few steps away from being signed into action by the President, so here’s what you need to know.

THE LAW

The amendment bill facilitates the creation of a centralised “National Road Traffic Offences Register”, which will (in theory) decongest the severely backlogged fines system currently in place.