Unsafe rides to school

Overloaded minibus taxis, unroadworthy vehicles and drivers operating without permits were among the serious safety violations uncovered during the learner transport inspections conducted in and around George this week.

- Lizette da Silva

Provincial Traffic and municipal traffic services have intensified scholar transport inspections.

George Herald observed the provincial traffic officers carrying out sporadic inspections at several primary and high schools since 14 Januarie as part of an operation aimed at improving learner transport safety. Multiple contraventions were identified during these checks, including the overloading of vehicles, taxis operating without valid permits, learners not wearing seat belts and vehicles deemed unroadworthy. These issues were observed at both primary and high schools across George. Private vehicles transporting learners to and from afterschool activities were also flagged as a growing concern.

Traffic officers expose serious safety violations during school transport inspections.

In one incident on Tuesday morning, a minibus taxi transporting learners was found to be severely overloaded, carrying 27 learners instead of the legally permitted 13. The driver was issued fines totalling R13 000. Another vehicle was found transporting 22 learners on Wednesday morning.

The traffic officers also noted that at some schools, the taxi drivers dropped the learners some distance away from the premises in an apparent attempt to avoid inspection.