What are the rules for buses and other transport to fixtures?

Regulation 8D of the Regulations for Safety Measures at Public Schools requires the school to ensure that:

School-owned vehicles

• have insurance and roadworthy certificates;
• are driven by drivers with a valid driving licence and a professional driving permit (PrDP).

Hired transport (the company or owner must give the school):

• insurance and roadworthy certificates for each vehicle;
• passenger liability insurance;
• the driver's valid licence and professional driving permit;
• a substitute driver and a transport support system en route.

Every vehicle carrying learners must have a fire extinguisher.

During the trip

• The principal, supervising educator or a governing body member must intervene if there is any doubt about the vehicle's roadworthiness or the driver's competence.
• If there is an accident, they must liaise with the driver or owner about reporting it to the police, and report it themselves within 48 hours if the driver or owner does not.

Where transport is involved, the trip also needs prior approval from the provincial education department on the Schedule 1 form.