The fastest you can drive in SA without getting a fine
Here’s how fast you can go before facing fines or demerit points.
It is never advisable to exceed the speed limit, but it’s also unrealistic to expect drivers to maintain the exact speed limit at all times.
That's why the AARTO (Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences) system allows a 10km/h grace margin over the speed limit.
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However, this does not mean you should push the limit.
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 11km/h can result in a fine or demerit points on your licence.
Naturally, both fines and demerit points increase with your speed.
The faster you drive, the heavier the fine and the higher the number of demerit points.
According to Rekord, a motorist driving 81km/h in a 70km/h zone could potentially receive only a warning.
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But if someone drives 91km/h or more in the same zone, they will face penalties.
AARTO speeding offences are divided into strict brackets:
10km/h or less over the limit
- No fine issued (tolerance allowance)
11–15km/h over the limit
- Fine: R250
- Demerit points: 0
16–20km/h over the limit
- Fine: R500
- Demerit points: 1
21–25km/h over the limit
- Fine: R750
- Demerit points: 2
26–30km/h over the limit
- Fine: R1 000
- Demerit points: 3
31–35km/h over the limit
- Fine: R1 250
- Demerit points: 4
36–40km/h over the limit
- Fine: R1 500
- Demerit points: 5
41–45km/h over the limit
- Fine: R1 750
- Demerit points: 6
46–50km/h over the limit
- Fine: R2 000
- Demerit points: 7
More than 50km/h over the limit
- Offence: Mandatory court appearance
- Possible suspension or cancellation of licence
The points demerit system
The AARTO Act aims to introduce a points demerit system in South Africa (not yet in effect).
This system is meant to encourage drivers to obey the law by threatening their right to drive if they continue to break the rules. Many countries use similar systems.
How it works:
- Everyone starts with zero demerit points.
- Points are added when you pay a fine, arrange to pay in instalments, are found guilty in court, or receive an enforcement order.
- Each offence has a set number of points (listed in Schedule 3 of the AARTO Regulations).
- The threshold is 15 points. Once you exceed this limit, your licence is suspended.
Suspension rules
- If you exceed the threshold, your licence is suspended.
- Duration: For every point above the threshold, the suspension lasts three months.
Example: Threshold is 15, you reach 17 = suspension of six months.
Example: Threshold is 12, you reach 15 = suspension of nine months. - A licence can only be suspended twice.
- While suspended, you cannot drive legally. Driving anyway is a criminal offence.
- If your licence is suspended twice and you exceed the threshold again, it is cancelled.
For drivers: You must start again with a learner’s licence.
For operator cards (vehicles): The law is unclear, but it may even mean scrapping the vehicle.
Driver rehabilitation programme
The AARTO Amendment Act introduces a rehabilitation programme for "habitual infringers."
- A habitual infringer is someone whose licence or operator card has been cancelled more than twice (three or more times).
- Only these repeat offenders may be required to attend the programme.
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