POLOKWANE – Travelling long distances can be demanding for taxi drivers who often transport ten or more passengers at a time, especially during the busy December holiday season.

Fatigue, long hours on the road, and pressure to meet peak festive demand can significantly affect driver focus and overall road safety.

To reduce fatigue-related incidents, Frans Kgasago, the Limpopo provincial coordinator for the National Taxi Alliance (NTA), says officials have been deployed across major routes to ensure long-distance taxi drivers take proper rest breaks.

Passengers are also encouraged to stretch for at least 15 minutes between long periods of travel.

“Look out for our foot soldiers in reflective jackets labelled ‘Ndlelanetle NTA’ on major routes across the country, including the N1 (north and south), N3, N4, R101, and M1 South,” Kgasago said.

The word Ndlelantle, originating from IsiZulu, calls for travellers to “go safely.”

Long-distance taxi driver Ndivhuwo Malabi, who operates between Thohoyandou and Polokwane, agrees that taking breaks is essential but says many drivers feel pressured.

“Focus drops on long trips, but some of us feel we can’t afford even a few minutes to rest,” Malabi said.

The Limpopo Department of Health is urging taxi owners to stop enforcing “check-in commission” systems that push drivers to rush and skip breaks.

They emphasise that the consequences of fatigue, including accidents and injuries. are too severe to ignore.

The department encourages passengers to speak up when they notice a driver is tired or when they themselves need a break.

They advise all long-distance operators to:

• Pause for at least 15 minutes every two hours.
• Allow passengers to stretch during these breaks.
• Ensure they always have drinking water and a first aid kit on board to reduce fatigue and improve readiness during emergencies.