NETCO hosted raod, safety driver wellness empowerment workshop
Female scholar drivers were celebrated during Women’s Month
In an effort to empower and celebrate women drivers in scholar transport and ensure they are well recognised, the Northern Education Transport Co-ordinators (NETCO) held a road safety and driver wellness empowerment workshop recently at the Moses Molelekwa Art Centre in Tembisa.
“Our female scholar drivers were happy to be invited and impressed by the outcome. Their participation was very impressive.
“Always abiding by the traffic laws, avoiding fatigue, wearing seatbelts and ensuring roadworthy vehicles are some of the key road safety lessons that NETCO operators took away from the workshop,” said Northern Education Transport Co-ordinators (NETCO) public relations officer Kgabo Selolo.
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A total of 102 NETCO female scholar drivers attended the workshop. Driver and vehicle fitness, including tyre safety, were among the topics discussed.
The female scholar drivers were informed about the importance of using good-quality tyres, making sure the tyre pressure is correct on all four tyres, checking them regularly and ensuring that the tyres are in good condition.
According to NETCO, operators are encouraged to protect learners while they are being transported by reducing their speed, keeping doors locked while driving, ensuring seatbelts are worn at all times, focusing on drop-offs and pick-ups and reducing sound while driving.
“Drivers were urged to always have regular medical status checks. The drivers were encouraged to be grateful for life, taught how to manage their finances, protect what is theirs, remember their worth and always draw up a budget for their business,” Selolo added.
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NETCO shared that there will be more engagements going forward to strengthen the relationships formed. All stakeholders delivered relevant and crucial information, and all departments committed to assisting where help is needed.
“NETCO would like to see changes among its operators by obeying the road and traffic laws, such as driving with their valid licences with PrDPs, roadworthy vehicles and continuing to apply for operating licences. Protecting kids from being bullied and abused in transport is also important,” Selolo continued.
