'Aarto means cold drinks'

GRAFT TRAP: DRIVERS ARE LIKELY TO OFFER MONEY TO AVOID LOSING POINTS, OFFICERS SAY >>> Needs impeccable efficiency, which is lacking - Outa.

- Sipho Mabena

With just over a month to go before the phased roll-out of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act, experts and insiders are warning of administrative chaos and a surge in roadside bribery.

Industry insiders say motorists are in for a rude awakening, with rogue traffic officials expected to laugh all the way to the bank as drivers facing licence suspensions choose to pay bribes rather than risk losing their right to drive.

Several traffic officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, admitted they expect an increase in bribe offers from desperate motorists.

"Even those who have never paid a bribe before will start doing so because no one wants to lose their licence," an officer said.

"Before, people would just pay the fine. But with the demerit system, whether you pay or not you still lose points. Eventually, you lose your licence so people will take shortcuts."

Another officer agreed, saying many motorists rely on their driving licences to earn a living and would not risk suspension or cancellation.

The officer said they were paid peanuts and many survive by taking bribes and that the demerit point scheme will not reduce accidents, but will feed corruption.

"Also, our roads are full of cloned cars and fake licences issued to people who cannot even read road signs.

"Therefore, our road safety interventions have not been dealing with the root causes but with symptoms," the officer said.

In September last year, at least 11 traffic officers were arrested in Polokwane for allegedly accepting bribes from drivers, taxi drivers and bus operators on the N1 highway between Polokwane and Musina.

Motorists could also soon find themselves unable to renew vehicle licences as the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), the body implementing Aarto, begins enforcing long-ignored provisions of the Act.