The Department of Transport’s demerit system for motorists is finally getting off the ground, with a pilot project to be introduced in Pretoria from September and later extended to the rest of the country.
The Department of Transport’s demerit system for motorists is finally getting off the ground, with a pilot project to be introduced in Pretoria from September and later extended to the rest of the country.
According to the , every driver will be awarded 12 points and a licence will be suspended if a motorist loses all points in one year.
If a motorist remains penalty-free for the whole year, they gain 12 more points the following year and a bonus total of 25 points. Department spokesman Ndivhuwo Mabaya said motorists can build up a bank of bonus points through the years if they stay penalty free.
But the bonus points cannot be used against offences like drunk driving or excessive speeding. These offences lead you straight to court and you could lose all your points, including your bonus points.
If you are caught without your driver’s licence it will cost two demerits and a R500 fine. If you are caught not wearing a seatbelt, you will get one demerit and pay a R250 fine. Driving an unregistered vehicle totals two demerit points and a R500 fine. Not stopping at a stop sign and overloading by more than 25 per cent will result in three demerit points.
If you are caught doing up to 20 per cent over the speed limit (72km/h in a 60km/h zone or 144km/h in a 120km/h zone), you be fined R250, but not get any demerit points. But if you are 21 per cent to 30 per cent (78km/h in a 60km/h zone or 156km/h in a 120km/h zone) over the speed limit you will get one demerit point and a R500 fine.
If you are 31 per cent to 45 per cent (174 km in a 120 km/h zone) over the speed limit you get two demerit points and a R750 fine. If you are 46 per cent to 60 per cent (192 km/h in a 120 km/h zone) over the speed limit it amounts to three demerit points and a fine of R1 250.
If you are caught doing more than 60 per cent over the speed limit you will go to court, be fined and receive four demerit points.
