The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences AARTO demerit system is unlikely to curb South Africa's road safety crisis and may exacerbate inefficiencies, the Automobile Association AA has warned.
According to statistics published by The Road Traffic Management Corporation RTMC in 2022, 12 436 people lost their lives on South African roads, a fatality rate of 20.7 per 100 000 people. Pedestrians bore a disproportionate burden, accounting for roughly 43 of all road deaths in the same year, underscoring that road safety is a shared concern and responsibility. In 2024 fatalities decreased to 10 154.
However, the AA said persistent road fatalities pointed to deeper systemic factors, including law enforcement inefficiencies, road user education and behaviour, vehicle fitness and safety, and infrastructure that undermines road safety outcomes.