Is your child’s school transport really safe?

“Making sure vehicles are roadworthy, drivers are licensed, and safety checks are consistently carried out is not optional,” says Tiaan Meyer, Branch Manager at ER24 Vaal. 

Every day, millions of South African children travel to and from school using buses, minibuses and other scholar transport services. While these services provide a vital link between home and school, road crashes involving school transport vehicles can have devastating consequences for children and their families.

Tiaan Meyer, Branch Manager at ER24 Vaal, says his branch regularly responds to road traffic incidents involving multiple passengers, including scholar transport vehicles. “These collisions can rapidly escalate into mass-casualty incidents. While not every incident can be prevented, many risks can be significantly reduced when parents, schools, transport operators, and drivers work together to prioritise safety. We see firsthand the devastating impact that road accident crashes involving scholar transport can have on our children, families and communities.

“Making sure vehicles are roadworthy, drivers are properly licensed, and safety checks are consistently carried out is not optional; it is a responsibility we all share. By working together, parents, schools, and transport operators can make safety a priority and protect the lives of our children.” 

What to check if your child uses school transport

As a parent, if your child makes use of school transport, these are some of the safety checks you should familiarise yourself with:

A Professional Driving Permit (PrDP): A Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) confirms that a school transport driver is legally permitted to transport children and is medically fit to do so. As part of the application process, drivers need to have passed a medical examination, including a general health assessment and an eye test, and to have passed criminal record checks.

An operating licence: In addition to a PrDP, school transport operators must hold a valid operating licence for the vehicles used to transport learners. These licences include key safety requirements designed to reduce the risk of road accidents and injuries. For example, children may not be transported on the back of vehicles such as bakkies.

Additionally, as a parent, you need to check the following requirements:

• The vehicle licence disc and roadworthiness certificate are valid and up to date. If any of these have expired, the driver must not transport children
• That seatbelts are working properly
• The vehicle’s tyres are in good condition and not old and worn out
• The vehicle’s doors open and close properly, especially from the inside, so that children can escape easily during an emergency
• That the windows are intact and don’t have any cracks
• Indicators, brake lights and windscreen wipers all work properly.

As a school transport driver or company, these are your responsibilities

Vehicle safety is essential, but driver behaviour and awareness are just as important in preventing road accidents involving children. Parents and transport operators should regularly monitor drivers for signs of fatigue, poor sleep and possible substance use, as these factors can significantly affect concentration and reaction time on the road. Additionally, parents should also be vigilant of unsafe driving habits, such as using a cellphone while driving. Furthermore, regular health screenings are another important part of road safety. Drivers should check their blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol levels and body mass index annually. Eye tests should also be done regularly, since undetected vision or health problems increase the likelihood of accidents.

Other safety measures drivers can take include:

• Only loading or offloading children at safe, designated zones
• Keeping a first-aid kit in the vehicle
• Being on time to avoid rushing 

“At ER24, we remain committed to responding when emergencies occur, but prevention through vigilance and accountability is the true safeguard for young lives. Every safe kilometre driven is a life protected; road safety starts with us.”