As millions of South African learners return to the classroom, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and ChildSafe South Africa caution parents about safety.

The two entities have issued a unified call to parents and guardians to take a direct, proactive role in the safety of their children’s daily commute to school.

With road traffic injuries remaining a leading cause of injury and death for children aged 5 to 14 in South Africa, both organisations emphasise that parental vigilance is the first line of defence against unroadworthy vehicles and unlicensed operators.

ALSO READ: Scholar transport drivers intimidated by taxi operators – EMPD intervenes

School children in this age category constituted 5.61 per cent of 12 172 people who died on the roads in the country in 2024.

“This is an unacceptable situation, as these unfortunate fatalities could have been prevented if proper precautions had been taken.

“Parents must understand that road safety starts at home before a child gets into a vehicle that transports them,” said RTMC spokesperson, Simon Zwane.

“Safety on our roads is a shared responsibility that begins long before a child reaches the school gates,” added executive director of ChildSafe South Africa, Zaitoon Rabaney.

She notes that while law enforcement remains committed to strictly monitoring scholar transport, parents should conduct a basic safety walk-around of the vehicle. If a vehicle appears unroadworthy or does not appear right, make alternative arrangements.

Parents should verify the driver’s credentials before allowing their children to board. This proactive approach is essential to ensuring that every journey to and from school is safe.

ALSO READ: EMPD urges compliance by scholar transport operators

“Scholar transport must never be viewed as a mere convenience, but as a critical service that requires rigorous safety standards. Collectively, we must ensure that operators are not only legally compliant but also fit for the duty of transporting children,” said Rabaney.

Driver’s licence and identity verification

A vital part of this oversight involves the driver. Parents are urged to personally confirm that their child’s driver holds a valid Professional Driving Permit (PDP), which is a non-negotiable legal requirement for public transport.

It is essential to physically check the driver’s licence card to ensure it is current and that the identification matches the individual behind the wheel.

Furthermore, parents should enquire about the credentials of any substitute or backup drivers to ensure they meet the same professional standards.

Vehicle compliance and physical condition

The vehicle itself must meet strict legal and safety criteria. A compliant scholar transport vehicle must display a valid operating licence issued by the Provincial Regulatory Entity.

ALSO READ: Safety tips for managing learners on scholar transport – EMPD

Parents should also look for the vehicle licence disc on the windscreen to confirm it is current and has been renewed recently.

Physical checks during a walk-around are equally important, particularly ensuring that tyres have visible tread and are free of damage. Critically, both organisations remind the public that it is illegal and life-threatening to transport learners in the back of bakkies or open trucks.

Guard against overloading

The prevention of overloading is a key priority for both ChildSafe and the RTMC.

Parents must verify that every child has a designated seat and a functional seatbelt. To provide further security, parents should insist that the operator carry Passenger Liability Insurance, ensuring that children are protected in the event of an unforeseen incident.

Operational communication and accountability

Establishing clear lines of communication is essential for child safety. Parents are encouraged to save the driver’s direct contact details along with a secondary emergency number for the transport owner. Professional operators should provide a reliable system for notifying parents of route changes or delays, ensuring the child’s whereabouts are always accounted for.

“Parents should also obtain the association to which the operator belongs in case they may need to submit complaints,” said Rabaney.

The RTMC and ChildSafe South Africa remain committed to their ongoing collaboration on national school zone safety initiatives. Parents who encounter non-compliant or dangerous transport operators for scholars are urged to report them immediately to the RTMC or local traffic authorities.