Cape Town Expresses Desire to Opt Out of AARTO
There are ongoing calls for the withdrawal of AARTO regulations in Cape Town. Currently, there's a dispute about who should take precedence in certain traffic queues, highlighting some frustrations among drivers from different areas like Soweto and KwaMashu.
Concerns About Reckless Driving and Accountability
Despite the debates, the urgent need remains to hold drivers accountable for reckless behavior, as innocent lives continue to be lost on South African roads. The hope is that resolving these issues through enforcement will improve road safety.
Criticism of AARTO's Implementation and Coverage
Ironically, the AARTO system is unlikely to be applied to the minibus taxi industry due to factors such as corruption and threats, although this sector is a major contributor to accidents and fatalities because of unsafe vehicles and reckless driving.
Around half of road deaths involve pedestrians. It’s been suggested that AARTO should also cover pedestrian offenses.
Flaws in Current AARTO Regulations
- The existing rules are criticized for being ineffective in reducing road fatalities.
- No penalty points are assigned for driving without a seatbelt, despite it being a key safety factor.
- More penalty points are given for not carrying a driver’s license than for serious offenses like running red lights or stop signs.
- The system contains contradictions, such as receiving points against a license that a driver does not possess, leading to the suspension of a non-existent license after repeated violations.
These inconsistencies highlight the need for a more coherent and effective regulatory framework to genuinely improve road safety.
Author’s Summary
The call for Cape Town to opt out of AARTO reflects broad frustrations with its inconsistent enforcement, loopholes, and failure to target key causes of road accidents and fatalities.