Scholar transport: Know what to check to keep children safer

Every school day, millions of South African children rely on scholar transport to get to and from school safely. For parents and caregivers, that daily journey is built on trust – trust that the vehicle is roadworthy, that the driver is qualified and that safety comes first.

That trust has come sharply into focus after a series of tragic incidents involving scholar transport, highlighting just how vulnerable children are on South Africa’s roads. About 3.4 million learners in South Africa rely on some form of arranged scholar transport (subsidised or private). According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, more than 10% of road fatalities in 2023 involved children younger than 14.

What the law requires from scholar transport

South African law sets clear requirements for scholar transport drivers and vehicles. While government and other stakeholders continue to work on improving oversight and governance in the sector, parents and caregivers still play an important role in keeping children safe. By asking questions, checking documents and reporting concerns, families can actively contribute to ensuring safe and responsible transport.

“Every driver transporting learners must hold a valid Professional Driving Permit (PrDP), an operating licence and a roadworthy certificate. These are the basic requirements. Responsible driving behaviour among all road users is also critical for safer roads,” says Afrika Tikkun’s Marcella Naidoo, Delivery Lead for Discovery Safe Journeys to School (DSJTS), a programme that promotes safe scholar transport.

Using telematics technology from Discovery Insure, DSJTS is directly aligned with Discovery’s aim of creating behaviour change by improving driving behaviour through training, monitoring and rewards.

“Since its implementation in 2014, DSJTS has shown remarkable success in both the Western Cape and Gauteng, with over 900 scholar drivers participating. With zero road fatalities, DSJTS is a compelling testament to the impact that strong partnerships and responsible citizenship can bring to society,” says Andronica Mabuya, Discovery’s Head of CSI.

Professional Driving Permit (PrDP)

A PrDP confirms that a scholar driver is legally allowed to transport children and is physically fit to do so. As part of the PrDP application process, drivers must have a medical examination, which includes a general health assessment and an eye test. Anyone applying for a PrDP must pass criminal record checks. There are costs associated with these licences, and while applicants wait for their official licences to be issued, drivers may operate using temporary permits.

Operating licence

Operators who run a scholar transport business must also have a valid operating licence. This licence applies specifically to vehicles used by scholar transporters and includes important safety conditions. These include prohibiting learners from being transported on the back of any vehicle, including bakkies or light delivery vehicles, and limiting the number of learners to the number of available seats in the vehicle.

“Overloading is illegal and increases the risk of serious injury or death in a crash,” says Naidoo.

Vehicle safety checks matter

Basic safety checks must be carried out before children enter a vehicle, and parents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with what safe scholar transport looks like.

“We urge scholar drivers to ensure their vehicles and documents are up to date. This is their social licence to operate in the interest of providing a safe, reliable service for learners. Parents are also encouraged to ensure that they familiarise themselves with the requirements of a scholar transport provider,” says Naidoo.

Parents and caregivers are advised to check that:

• The driver has a valid PrDP on their driving licence
• The vehicle licence disc and roadworthy certificate are valid and current – if any of these are expired, the driver must not transport children
• Seatbelts are working properly
• The vehicle’s tyres are in good condition and not worn
• The vehicle’s doors open and close properly from the inside
• Windows are intact and with no cracks
• Indicators, brake lights and windscreen wipers work properly.

“Vehicle safety checks help scholar drivers identify what vehicle repairs to do. DSJTS, working with the Department of Mobility in the Western Cape, provides free safety checks at selected testing centres at least twice a year,” says Mabuya.

Driver behaviour and health

Vehicle safety alone is not enough. Driver alertness and behaviour are equally critical. Therefore, operators and parents should regularly monitor and assess drivers, including checking for driving under the influence of any substances and identifying signs of fatigue or poor sleep. Discovery Insure data reveals that drivers who sleep only four to five hours a night face a 4.3 times higher risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Parents should be cautious if a driver uses a cellphone while driving. Discovery Insure data shows that cellphone use has overtaken speeding as the leading cause of accidents in South Africa. Spending as little as 20 seconds on a cellphone while driving can increase the risk of an accident by more than 60%.

Drivers are also encouraged to undergo yearly health screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol levels and body mass index. Eye tests are recommended every two years for those under 40, and yearly for those over 40, as undetected health and vision issues can contribute to crashes.

Road safety is a shared responsibility

As road tragedies have shown, unsafe vehicles and irresponsible driving can have devastating consequences. At a national level, traffic departments carry out various targeted initiatives, inspections and enforcement of vehicle roadworthiness to improve the safety of scholar transport. Parents and caregivers are also encouraged to speak to scholar drivers about their concerns.

“It’s also important for parents to check pick‑up and drop‑off locations to confirm that they are safe and appropriate for children. Additionally, caregivers should teach learners how to board vehicles safely and behave appropriately during the journey to avoid distracting the driver,” says Naidoo.

News reports on scholar transport crashes often highlight issues such as overloading, driver error and non-compliance with safety requirements. Ensuring vehicles are roadworthy and that drivers are compliant can make a real difference in securing the safety of learners on the roads.

“While families rely on the transport options available in their communities, drivers, parents, caregivers, and the relevant authorities share the responsibility of safer transport for children. Discovery Safe Journeys to School aims to support this, and parents and caregivers are encouraged to stay informed and raise concerns about transport safety,” concludes Mabuya.

Watch the video about Discovery Safe Journeys to School and the experiences of partners and parents on the difference it makes to safer scholar transport.

Scholar transport safety checklist

The vehicle

• Type of vehicle

The vehicle must not be a bakkie or delivery vehicle, and children must not be transported on the back of any vehicle.

• Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) and operating licence
  Valid permit details must always be displayed in the vehicle. Check the expiry date on the permit and the vehicle’s capacity. If the details are not visible, ask the driver and do not let your child enter the vehicle.
• Seatbelts
  Make sure seatbelts are working properly.
• Tyres
  Tyres must not be smooth or worn.
• Doors
  Doors must open and close safely from the inside.
• No overloading
  The number of learners must not exceed the number of available seats.

General

• Check that the driver is alert.
• Check that there is no cellphone use while driving.
• Review pick-up and drop-off locations for safety.
• Teach children about safe boarding and behaviour in the vehicle.
• Report unsafe vehicles anonymously on 0861 400 800 or 012 999 5407.

For more information, visit www.sjts.afrikatikkun.org