The second phase of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (AARTO) has begun in South Africa, introducing new rules and consequences for drivers. The system, initially launched in 62 municipalities, is now expanding to another 151 municipalities across the country.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Although the points system for offenses will not come into effect until 2027, companies are strongly advised to prepare all necessary systems for its implementation. Since AARTO has become an active regulatory reality with immediate financial and administrative consequences, MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert has urged companies to react promptly to avoid disruptions.
According to Herbert, any fine issued to a corporate vehicle is now directly linked to its official Business Registration Number (BRN) via the eNaTIS system. This means that fines can no longer be ignored or postponed due to unclear driver responsibility. Businesses must assign a responsible employee or team to timely track, verify, and pay fines, preferably within 30 days to qualify for a discount.
Risks for Fleets
Herbert warns that fleet operators who have not yet revised their internal processes must do so urgently. He emphasizes that organizations require a proper system to monitor outstanding fines related to corporate vehicles, ensure continuous payment verification, and inform drivers about their role in reducing violations.
The CEO noted that the cost of non-compliance goes far beyond the amount of individual fines. He stated that vehicles with unpaid fines cannot be licensed, renewed, or transferred, effectively immobilizing them until the debt is settled. This can lead to transport downtime, delivery delays, and broader operational issues if the matters remain unresolved.
Furthermore, Herbert added that unresolved issues will become more serious when individual drivers start accumulating offense points, which could lead to the suspension or cancellation of driving licenses. The phased implementation gives businesses an important period to take compliance with AARTO seriously. Historically, less than 20% of road traffic fines in the previous South African system were paid, and AARTO aims to close this gap by effectively decriminalizing offenses while adding accountability measures for non-compliance.
Digitalization of Notifications
Moreover, under AARTO, violation notifications will increasingly be generated in digital format and sent through contact details associated with eNaTIS, as well as via SMS notifications where possible. This eliminates the possibility of blaming the Postal Service for not receiving the fine.