Scholar Transport Safety: The Roadworthy Checklist for Parents

After a year of devastating accidents, this is the essential 5-point checklist every South African parent must use before handing over their child’s safety.

For millions of South African parents, the safety of the school run rests on a hired vehicle and driver. News reports detailing fatal accidents, illegal operators, and severe overloading have understandably heightened anxiety.

Choosing a scholar transport provider should never be about the cheapest quote; it must be about verified compliance and safety. To help you make an informed decision, we have distilled the official requirements from the Department of Transport (DOT) and provincial education departments (like WCED and GDE) into an essential 5-point checklist.

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Before you even look at the driver, the vehicle itself must be roadworthy and compliant. Illegal vehicles, such as light delivery vehicles (bakkies) or unroadworthy minibuses, are prohibited from ferrying learners.

• Roadworthiness: The vehicle must have a valid Roadworthy Certificate. This must be renewed regularly.
• Manufacture Date: Provincial contracts often specify that vehicles must have been manufactured after a certain date (e.g., after September 2006 for certain contracts).
• Overloading: This is a major cause of fatal accidents. A 14-seater minibus must never carry 20 pupils. Ask the operator directly: “What is the total number of learners in your vehicle, and what is its official seating capacity?”
• Seatbelts and Restraints: The vehicle must have a working, dedicated seatbelt for every single passenger, and it is the driver’s legal responsibility to ensure all passengers under 14 are properly restrained.

The driver’s professionalism and legal clearance are arguably the most important component of the entire service.

• Professional Driving Permit (PrDP): The driver must possess a valid Professional Driving Permit (PrDP). This is a special license required for transporting people for reward, and it requires stricter medical checks and clearance against criminal records than a regular driving license. Ask to see it.
• Valid Operating Licence: The transport operator (or the school, if they run the service) must have a valid Operating Licence for Learner Transport. This permit specifies the route and the conditions of service.
• Conduct: The driver should demonstrate a professional, non-aggressive driving style and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner toward children.

Safety extends beyond the car itself—it includes the daily routine.

• Designated Pick-up/Drop-off Points: Where does the vehicle stop? Always ensure children are loaded and unloaded on the pavement side, away from flowing traffic. You should know the exact GPS coordinates or description of the pick-up and drop-off points.
• Route Review: Ask the operator to share their route map. Does it avoid high-risk intersections or busy, unregulated taxi ranks? Does the route add excessive time to your child’s journey?
• Monitoring and Communication: Do they offer drop-off notifications (via an app or message)? Is there an office administrator or central point of contact available during school hours, or is your only contact the driver?

As a parent, you have a duty to report non-compliant transport immediately.

• Immediate Reportable Offences:
  • Overloading the vehicle.
  • Failure to ensure all children wear seatbelts.
  • Transporting children on the back of a bakkie.
  • Aggressive or dangerous driving.
• Who to Contact: If you witness a safety violation, report the license plate number and time immediately to your local Traffic Department or the Provincial Department of Transport call centre.

Even with the best transport service, parent behaviour matters:

• Be On Time: Rushing the driver or keeping them waiting encourages them to speed up and drive aggressively to stay on schedule.
• Prepare Your Child: Teach your child road safety, to wear their seatbelt, and to only exit the vehicle on the pavement side, never into the street.
• Get Out of the Car: If you drive your own child, always load and unload them on the pavement side, even if it adds 30 seconds to the process.

Your peace of mind is worth more than saving a few rands a month. By using this checklist and demanding compliance, you are actively helping to enforce safer standards for every child on the road.

Fochville scholar transport tragedy
 provides context on the devastating real-world consequences of scholar transport non-compliance and the urgent need for parent vigilance.