The policy of issuing driving licence cards with limited validity periods in South Africa has come under renewed scrutiny. Experts argue that it offers no proven benefit to road safety. In fact, some suggest it may have even worsened the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Rob Handfield-Jones, managing director of Driving.co.za and a respected authority on road safety, there is no credible research linking short licence card validity periods with improved safety on South Africa\u2019s roads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no evidence that the introduction of licence cards had any positive effect on road safety,\u201d he said. He added that any potential benefit has likely been overshadowed by widespread corruption within the licensing system<\/a> and a shift in traffic enforcement priorities toward revenue collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The current licence card system was introduced in 1998, replacing the indefinite licences previously printed in South Africans\u2019 ID books. That same year, the country recorded its lowest-ever road fatality rate\u20146.9 deaths per 100 million vehicle kilometres. Within eight years, that figure had doubled. Since 2006, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has stopped publishing these critical statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the intended purpose of encouraging regular medical screening, especially eye tests, the system’s effectiveness is questionable. The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has long argued that licence expiries were primarily implemented to assess drivers’ physical fitness. However, experts remain unconvinced this method is producing the desired results.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA History of Deteriorating Safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n