Taxi’s load up the kids
LYNDHURST - According to the National Road Traffic Act, taxis seemingly overloaded with school children may in fact be abiding by the law.
Johannesburg taxis have a reputation for severe and dangerous overloading, and one concerned community member believes she has witnessed this phenomenon along Johannesburg Road.
“Every morning, a minibus vehicle collects several school children and transports them towards town,” the resident reported to the North Eastern Tribune. What has caused concern for this woman is the number of children that seem to be crammed into the vehicle every day.
“He lets them stand in a line so he can rearrange them,” said the resident, who described children sitting on each other’s laps and standing between seats in the vehicle.
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The woman says she has reported the vehicle to Metro police three times, but despite assurances that the matter will be investigated, the situation has not changed.
“Every morning my heart just breaks,” she added.
According to metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar, however, this vehicle may not be breaking any laws. In terms of Regulation 231 of the National Road Traffic Act, two children between the ages of three and six years are considered the equivalent of one adult, while three children between the ages of six and 13 years are considered to be the equivalent of two adults,” says Minnaar.
Consequently, a vehicle licensed to carry 15 adults may transport between 20 and 30 children, depending on their ages.
Minnaar stated that metro officers do patrol the Johannesburg Road area, and may already have deemed this particular vehicle safe.
“Taxis know that if they overstep the line, they are fined,” he added.
However, it is possible police took no action on a safety risk they considered to be outside their duties. “Passenger safety is the province of the Department of Community Safety, which is responsible for enforcing the Land and Transport Act,” said Minnaar, who was unable to comment on whether Metro police could be expected to relay reports of unsafe transport, submitted by community members, to the department.
Details: Report suspicions of unsafe passenger transport to the Department of Community Safety: 011 355 7000
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