After years of delays, court challenges and shifting implementation dates, the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system is once again edging closer to reality. While many South Africans immediately think of licence suspensions and demerit points when AARTO is mentioned, Phase 2 is not quite the full demerit system that many motorists fear.
Related: Beware of fake AARTO fines in South Africa
So, what exactly is AARTO Phase 2, and how will it affect everyday road users?
In simple terms, AARTO aims to move the handling of traffic infringements away from the criminal court system and into an administrative process managed by the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA). The goal is to create a more streamlined system for issuing, processing and collecting traffic fines while encouraging safer driving behaviour.
The Department of Transport recently confirmed that the national rollout of AARTO has been postponed to 1 July 2026 following concerns around municipal readiness, officer training and system integration. Despite the delay, the phased implementation approach remains in place.
For motorists, Phase 2 primarily means that more municipalities will begin operating under the AARTO administrative framework. Traffic infringements will be processed through a centralised system, and drivers will have specific timelines within which to pay, dispute or nominate another driver responsible for an offence. Failure to respond could eventually result in enforcement actions that may affect the renewal of driving licences and vehicle licence discs.
Misconceptions around AARTO
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Phase 2 is that drivers will immediately start losing their licences through the demerit points system. However, the demerit component forms part of a later implementation phase and is not expected to be activated during Phase 2. Full demerit enforcement is currently planned for a later stage of the rollout.
When the demerit system eventually comes into effect, motorists will accumulate points for certain traffic offences. Drivers who exceed the prescribed threshold of 15 points could face licence suspensions, while repeated breaches may ultimately result in licence cancellation.
For now, South Africans should view AARTO Phase 2 as the beginning of a new way of managing traffic infringements rather than the immediate arrival of the feared demerit regime. The message is simple: keep your licence details up to date, pay attention to infringement notices and make use of the dispute processes available. The demerit points may still be on the horizon, but Phase 2 is about building the system that will eventually support them.
While the Department has not yet publicly released an updated official list of all 62 municipalities, the original Phase 2 rollout included major metros and municipalities such as:
Johannesburg
Pretoria (City of Tshwane)
Ekurhuleni
Durban
Cape Town
Bloemfontein
Gqeberha
East London
Polokwane
Mbombela
Newcastle
Ladysmith
George
Stellenbosch
Beaufort West
