THE Automobile Association (AA) is calling on authorities to put a moratorium on fines related to expired licences and vehicle disks, and address the current renewal process which has been described as ‘shambolic’.
According to the AA, there is concern that police are setting up roadblocks to catch out motorists, many of whom are already ‘thinly stretched’ and battling with licence renewals.
‘The current system was broken even before the lockdown began,’ said AA spokesman Layton Beard.
‘Now, with thousands of anxious motorists struggling to renew their driving licences, for a variety of reasons, the failures of the system are being exposed even more.’
Beard said it’s most concerning that authorities are not acknowledging the difficulties, nor attempting to assist the public in any way.
System overhaul
The AA has put forward a suggestion that third party agents be given the go-ahead to renew driving licence cards to relieve some of the strain on the system.
‘It’s not news to anyone that the online booking system is not functional, that Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) are open erratically and under-staffed, and that online networks at DLTCs are also often down, all of which result in motorists being unable to renew their cards,’ continued Beard.
‘The only people who don’t seem to acknowledge these issues are the authorities, and it’s the motorists who ultimately suffer’.
He said the AA believes the majority of South African motorists want to adhere to legal requirements, but are battling to do so.
‘Law-abiding citizens, with no alternatives, must continue using their vehicles for work, and are then punished because of a problem they didn’t cause, by the very authorities who did,’ said Beard.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has also called for changes to the vehicle and driver’s license systems, appealing to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula to consider changing renewal processes, and extending driver’s license validity from five to 10 years.
