Cape Town wants to opt out of Aarto

Cape Town Wants to Opt Out of Aarto

There are ongoing calls for the withdrawal of certain traffic regulations in Cape Town. Amid these discussions, a dispute even arose over queue order between Soweto and KwaMashu. The key concern remains the need to hold drivers accountable to reduce road fatalities caused by reckless behavior.

Currently, many innocent lives are lost on the roads due to dangerous driving habits. It is hoped that resolving these issues through regulation will enhance road safety. Without enforcing such measures, solutions are unlikely.

Concerns About Aarto Implementation

Ironically, the Aarto system is not applied to the minibus taxi industry, despite this sector being a major contributor to accidents and deaths on South African roads. Reasons include corruption and threats, though reckless driving and unroadworthy vehicles in this industry remain critical issues.

Pedestrian Safety

About half of road fatalities involve pedestrians. There are calls to extend Aarto regulations to cover offenses involving pedestrian safety as well.

Criticism of Current Regulations

The existing rules have several perceived flaws:

No penalty points are given for driving without a seatbelt, despite its importance in reducing fatalities.
More penalty points are assigned for not carrying a driver’s license than for serious violations such as running a red light or ignoring stop signs.
Contradictions in the system create confusion, such as receiving 4 points for driving without a license—which can lead to suspension of a license one does not possess.

"You can spend a day on the laughable contradictions. 4 points against the license you do not have for driving without a license and if you do that enough times they suspend the license you don’t have."

These contradictions undermine the effectiveness and fairness of the current system.

Author's Summary

Without consistent enforcement and addressing key gaps, especially in the minibus industry and pedestrian safety, Aarto’s effectiveness in reducing South African road deaths remains in question.

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Moneyweb — 2025-11-07