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A summit on the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (Aarto) has been delayed for a third time, Justice Project SA (JPSA) said on Monday.
"We fear that if things continue like this, it will continue being put off indefinitely and no progress will be made, leading to a further loss of credibility," JPSA chairman Howard Dembovsky said in a statement.
"Why is Aarto constantly being delayed and why is no progress apparently being made?" he asked.
He said the summit was to have taken place in June, 2011, but was postponed to July and was then put off until August. It had now been postponed to September, 2011.
"NO DATE" - TRANSPORT MINISTRY
However, transport ministry spokesman Logan Maistry said there had never been a set date for the Aarto summit.
"The minister said it (the summit) would be held this year, but we needed to make sure that all stakeholders were on board.
"A date for the summit still needs to be announced," he said.
The act and its points-demerit system was supposed to have come into effect on or by April 1, 2011.
JPSA raised several issues after Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele called for comment on amendments to the act on April 15, 2011.
OPEN LETTER
Dembovsky said he had sent an open letter to Ndebele titled "Get AARTO rolled out now Mr minister" In the letter he said no one was taking Aarto seriously.
"People seem to be under the impression that traffic fines are a mere consequence of driving, but when the points demerit system comes into play they will have to start abiding by the law. Until then, it is a free for all," he said.
Aarto would have a marked impact on reducing bad driver behaviour and as a result road fatalities.
"This country urgently needs a points demerit system and it most certainly needs to have road users who care about the consequences of bad behaviour on our roads," said Dembovsky.
ALL CONCERNS ADDRESSED
Maistry said the roll-out of Aarto had been postponed because the minister was asked to do so in representations from various sectors, including provinces, municipalities and organised labour.
"What we want to ensure from Aarto is that all challenges and concerns are addressed before we roll-out Aarto. There is no other agenda," Maistry said.
He said Aarto's postponement was not hampering existing road traffic laws.
Ndebele would meet with transport MECs from around the country this week and Aarto was on the agenda, Maistry said.
"We fear that if things continue like this, it will continue being put off indefinitely and no progress will be made, leading to a further loss of credibility," JPSA chairman Howard Dembovsky said in a statement.
"Why is Aarto constantly being delayed and why is no progress apparently being made?" he asked.
He said the summit was to have taken place in June, 2011, but was postponed to July and was then put off until August. It had now been postponed to September, 2011.
"NO DATE" - TRANSPORT MINISTRY
However, transport ministry spokesman Logan Maistry said there had never been a set date for the Aarto summit.
"The minister said it (the summit) would be held this year, but we needed to make sure that all stakeholders were on board.
"A date for the summit still needs to be announced," he said.
The act and its points-demerit system was supposed to have come into effect on or by April 1, 2011.
JPSA raised several issues after Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele called for comment on amendments to the act on April 15, 2011.
OPEN LETTER
Dembovsky said he had sent an open letter to Ndebele titled "Get AARTO rolled out now Mr minister" In the letter he said no one was taking Aarto seriously.
"People seem to be under the impression that traffic fines are a mere consequence of driving, but when the points demerit system comes into play they will have to start abiding by the law. Until then, it is a free for all," he said.
Aarto would have a marked impact on reducing bad driver behaviour and as a result road fatalities.
"This country urgently needs a points demerit system and it most certainly needs to have road users who care about the consequences of bad behaviour on our roads," said Dembovsky.
ALL CONCERNS ADDRESSED
Maistry said the roll-out of Aarto had been postponed because the minister was asked to do so in representations from various sectors, including provinces, municipalities and organised labour.
"What we want to ensure from Aarto is that all challenges and concerns are addressed before we roll-out Aarto. There is no other agenda," Maistry said.
He said Aarto's postponement was not hampering existing road traffic laws.
Ndebele would meet with transport MECs from around the country this week and Aarto was on the agenda, Maistry said.
