“A PDP is required to operate a public vehicle and doing so without one is considered a criminal offence,” said Mr Koos Lubcker, acting licensing manager.
To drive certain types of vehicles, you are required to have a PDP in addition to your driving licence. A PDP is required if you drive any of the following, a goods vehicle weighing over 3 500 kg, a breakdown vehicle (tow truck), bus, minibus, or a goods vehicle carrying dangerous goods such as petroleum tankers.
Vehicles are coded according to their weight, for instance bakkies, often used as tow trucks are code 8, while your heavier vehicles might be code 10 or 14.
The PDP is marked according to the permit type, for instance code G is for goods, P is for passengers and D is for dangerous goods.
Additionally age restrictions are imposed on these codes, a goods permit can only be attained at the age of 18 as with a driver’s license for a motor vehicle. A permit for passengers can only be attained at the age of 21 – meaning that taxi, bus and mini-bus drivers must be older than 21 to operate legally, and dangerous goods can only be transported legally by someone who is older than 25.
Acquiring a PDP is another matter, in order to obtain one you must have a valid driver’s license to start with, in addition you must be certified medically fit by a doctor. Another requirement is that you must obtain police clearance – meaning you can’t have been convicted of driving under the influence, of reckless or negligent driving or of a violent offence – your driver’s license mustn’t be suspended either.
“Having a suspended criminal sentence will also prevent you from getting a PDP,” said Lubcker.
He also added that the licensing fees are costly and that not everyone can operate towing vehicle, the vehicle must meet regulations and be registered according to the National Road Traffic Act. The truck is required to have a fire extinguisher onboard, amber (yellow) light – marking it as an emergency breakdown vehicle, as well as a number of other regulations.
The question ‘Do you know what a PDP is and do you think eMalahleni’s taxi and tow-trucks drivers have it?’ was posted on the WITBANK NEWS Facebook page and here is what some of the readers had to say:
Donene Diedericks said “This is a joke right! A snippet out of a Leon Shuster movie? Witbank taxi drivers that have a PDP and there are a select few, the verb being FEW!”
Renoster Groenewald gave his opinion on the matter that if you transport people you must have PDP and if you transport goods. But this is South Africa free for all, how many people that have drivers licences can really drive? He mentioned he was 27 years old and that he had no fines to his name, and said “Keep to the rules, stop means stop, lights on, safety belt on. It starts with you as person to think before you drive.”
“Nevermind a PDP they don’t even have a learners,” said Niel Venter.
Ursula Lorraine commented that paramedics have to go through the schlep of obtaining them.
On the WITBANK NEWS Whatapp group the same question was posed and Annetjie Koekemoer answered that she does know what it is, but doubts that taxi and some of the tow truck drivers know what it stands for, let alone have it.
Serah Swanepoel said that they drive like maniacs, hooting and doing as they please on the roads. “I know what it is but I’m having a hard time believing most taxi drivers have a legal driver’s license. Not to mention a PDP,” said Mariska da Costa e Silva.
Operating a vehicle requiring a PDP and driving without one can net you a fine of at least R3 500, not to mention a charge of negligent driving, and possibly a suspended driver’s license or even imprisonment.
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