Child overloading causes serious risks
Wilfred Kgasago, spokesperson for the EMPD, says that learner transportation problems are getting more problematic by the day.
A resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that when she fetches her child from school, she often sees child transport vehicles being overloaded and children sitting on each others’ laps.
“In one instance I saw a child getting into the boot of the vehicle as the backseat was full,” she says.
Kgasago adds that learners are transported in vehicles not suitable for human-beings, and invariably the vehicles used are overloaded, which leads to all kinds of risks. In the event of a crash or sudden braking the passengers are exposed to the risk of sustaining serious injuries.
“Some of the vehicles even put the children in the goods compartment.
“Apart from contravention of the National Traffic Laws, the Road Accident Fund could take the driver to task or even reject claims where the vehicle is overloaded,” he says.
Overloading poses the risk of difficulty in controlling the vehicle as its capacity is over-burdened and it being controlled overly compromised.
“The EMPD’s urgent plea to the drivers is to desist from overloading their vehicles with school kids as the repercussions could be very serious for both the passengers and the driver, not only in sustaining serious injuries, but also in terms of legalities involved.” – @CarmenBoksburg
