Speeding fines and demerit points: What you need to know about AARTO
The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Act (AARTO) will be taking effect on 1 December.
The new AARTO laws aim to remove habitual traffic offenders from roads and national highways, making it safer for everyone.
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The AARTO Act has been in force in Johannesburg and Tshwane since 2008, with former Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga stating that the implementation of this law nationwide has been pending for 25 years.
According to AARTO, due to a high number of infringements that unfortunately result in fatalities on South Africa’s roads, AARTO will track habitual infringers and remove them from the roads through a points system.
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The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Act (AARTO) will begin operating on 1 December in South Africa’s major municipalities, with smaller regions adopting the system in April 2026.
The full demerit points programme is only expected to roll out by September 2026.
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Still, drivers should already prepare themselves for stricter speeding penalties and significant fines that will impact their records.
AARTO Explained
Authorities have confirmed that a 10km/h margin will remain in place to allow for variations in speedometer accuracy.
Example: fines start at 71km/h in a 60km/h zone, 111km/h in a 100km/h zone and 131km/h in a 120km/h zone.
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According to IOL, exceeding the limit by more than 30km/h in a 60km/h zone or 40km/h in a 100km/h or 120km/h zone will result in arrest.
This results in drivers being detained for speeds as low as 90km/h in an urban street, 140km/h on a rural road or 160km/h on a freeway.
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In addition to the arrest, drivers will get six demerit points, which can eventually lead to licence suspension.
The AARTO schedule outlines fines that increase in increments, with penalties rising sharply as the speed climbs:
- 71–72km/h in a 60km/h zone: R400 fine and one demerit point
- 73–74km/h: R600 fine and one demerit point
- 77–78km/h: R1,000 fine
- 79–80km/h: R1,400 fine
- 89–90km/h: R3,200 fine, the steepest charge in this range
A similar structure applies to freeways.
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For example, travelling 131–132km/h will cost R400, while exceeding 159–160km/h will incur a penalty of R3,200 and result in five demerit points.
Although the demerit system is still months away from implementation, the fine structure signals the seriousness of enforcement.
Drivers who ignore limits may face not just costly fines, but also arrests and the long-term risk of losing their driving privileges.
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