From 2025, potential major regulatory changes will take place for South African motorists, with the government aiming to put road safety and compliance at the forefront with regard to new driving licence laws. While theoretically, this would mean safer roads, a great cynic would rather view these as just others measures against the poor in the form of higher requirements, more money, and more enforcement.
Shorter Licence Validity Period
The big change is still to come for the licence validity period. Usually, licences last for five years and need not be renewed before that period ends; however, the proposed legislation with effect from July 2025 states that licences need to be renewed every four years. This in itself will mean that renewal fees, eye tests, and administration fees all come too frequently into the pocket of the driver. A shorter renewal cycle will uphold some standards, that one, the driver is fit to drive; two, the vehicle complies with safety standards.
Stricter Renewal Procedure
Renewing a driving licence shall be far from just a paper exercise. Starting 2025:
- The driver will have to produce medicolegal and eye test reports.
- Proof of residential address will have to be furnished subject to strict KYC norms.
- An increased fee shall be charged for renewal, pegged, the officials said, to merely administrative costs.
- For every renewal of driving licences, doctors shall have to medically test those above 65 years old.
An Insight into the Digital Driving Licence
The country shall be launching its new digital driving license under the Smart Card system, replacing the older card system. It is an electronic form of a driving licence that holds biometric information, thus offering high security against forgery. From the statements of Department of Transport:
- Existing licences shall stay valid till expiry.
- Applicants for new licence and those seeking renewal will be issued the latest digital licence starting 2025.
- DDL shall interface with traffic enforcement system for quick identification of fines and demerit points.
- Technical failures are feared by some motorists, and every moment is precious in transition; otherwise, a long queue presents itself.
Integration With Demerit Points System
Today’s TV commercials tell us that AARTO demerit points kick in during 2026: This will, then, be the time. The digital card will be used just to record offences, and to collect points, hence leading to:
- Suspension of licence in the case of repeat offenders.
- Cancellation of licence permanently once the driver’s points exceed the maximum limit.
- This will really pressure a road user to follow road regulations with little room for error.
Increased Costs to Drivers
This has, from the financial perspective, been the worst criticism bestowed on these changes. Now, the driver has almost to pay for everything in order to comply, ranging from short validity, insane fees, medical tests, and the new digital card. This is just again one more expense that quite a few won’t be able to accommodate already having been dried up by fuel costs and vehicle maintenance!
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