New controls on drivers' licences ahead
- 12-12-06
Tshwane motorists will be the first
to experience the points merit and demerit system
next month.
“The demerit and merit systems will be piloted in
Tshwane from next month in order to deal with
habitual traffic offenders,” Transport Minister Jeff
Radebe said on Sunday.
The system seeks to change the behaviour of
motorists regarding speeding, driving under the
influence of liquor, not wearing safety belts, as
well as unlicensed and insufficiently trained
drivers.
If drivers are found to be insufficiently
trained, they may be faced with driver re-training,
especially after serious crashes or repeat
violations, the minister said.
The demerit system is aimed at managing traffic
infringement to reduce fatalities on the roads, as
it also focuses on periodic vehicle testing.
Drivers would receive demerits for traffic
infringements, leading to the possible suspension of
their licence once a certain number of points had
been accumulated.
The system could even lead to the permanent loss of
a driver's licence by repeat offenders.
However, drivers would also be rewarded for good
behaviour by having the demerits removed from their
record after a period of no infringements.
In addition, government is to introduce a three
year trial for newly qualified drivers as part of
its National Road Strategy to reduce road accidents
in the country.
During the three year trial period, newly licensed
drivers may lose their licenses if they commit
certain offences such as driving under the influence
of alcohol.
In October, Cabinet indicated that an emphasis in
this regard was to encourage new drivers to adopt
good driving habits.
More than 13 000 lives are lost on the country’s
roads every year through fatalities, costing the
economy more than R43 billion.
This, because those who died in car accidents
were skilled, economically active people, whom the
country needed to grow the economy, the minister
explained at the weekend.
The system is set to rectify this by ensuring
higher levels of law enforcement and adequate
follow-up on fines and punishment.
The system is expected to be rolled out
nationally by 2008.
