Safety talks held with local scholar transport associations
Henrich Block, Gets public relations officer said scholar transport accidents had increased sharply and were the catalyst for having the session and ensuring driver compliance.
The Gauteng Education Transport Services (Gets) held a critical scholar transport talk with various scholar transport associations including the Midrand Learner Transport Association’s (MLTA) town and local branches.
Aimed at curbing the challenges faced by many scholar transport services, the talk sought to educate drivers and parents about the rights of their young ones when it comes to school transport operations.
This comes as various organisations and government institutions celebrate Transport Road Safety Month.
Kanana Community Hall was filled on October 12 by various scholar associations from local and town.
In attendance were MLTA, Ratanang Transport Association and Northen Education Transport Children Organisation (Netco).
Gets public relations officer Henrich Block said they wanted to engage with their members in the Midrand area and they were joined by an official from Johannesburg Metro Police Department.
He said an alarming increase in scholar transport accidents was the trigger to having the session and engaging drivers always to remain vigilant.
“I think the meeting went very well and we had various speakers addressing our members. We want to ensure that our members know the safety measures that they need to follow daily. This is because each child who steps into the scholar transport is valued and once, they are in your car, they become your responsibility,” said Block.
He said one of their biggest challenges was scholar transport operators who were not registered or affiliated with any associations and said they were a pirate squad.
Douglas Mbokoda, a JMPD official from the Community Outreach Unit told attendees some of the challenges that they were encountering.
Through JMPD’s spokesperson, Xolani Fihla, Mbokoda said it is important that the drivers adhere to and comply with the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996.
“It is important that drivers and owners inspect their vehicles daily to ensure compliance. Scholar transport divers, just like any road user must also comply with the speed limits of the road they are travelling on. Driving on the sidewalk is still challenging for many scholar transport divers,” said Fihla.
Transport owners and parents were urged to avoid overloading as that tarnishes the name of the business.
Related article:
Scholar transport to deal with owners and drivers involved in Seventh Road reckless driving
