2010. As we know, everybody thinks it is all about soccer and nothing about 2010 being a new decade.
We want to please our guests and provide them with those extra services like transport and tours to see our beautiful country. How many of you will answer this truthfully? Have you ever checked if your shuttle service or tour guide is registered and legal? Please do ensure that the following is in order for any driver transporting your guests.
Transporting your guest house guests Not the same license that applies to driving your children to school.
Should you or any shuttle service be driving your guests around, the following documentation should be in place. You will be held liable if you arrange any transport and you did not check any of the following:
Passengers and guest house establishments who wish to undertake Safe Public Road Transportation (SPRT). For clarification, I want to highlight certain important facts.
1. Who issues road transportation permits?
The Local Road Transport Board (LRTB).
Permits are issued by the LRTB. They will consider and issue permits for the transportation of passengers and tourists. These permits are issued in conjunction with the Gauteng Public Passenger Road Transportation Act, 2001.
2. Who needs a public passenger permit?The Act specifies that:
"A person undertaking a public road transport service must - A. have the necessary permit, operating license or ad hoc authorization; and
B. be registered in terms of this Act in case of minibus taxi-type, metered taxi, bus-type and coach-type services"
C. some of the other categories of service also underpinned in this Act would be;
Tourist services
Charter services
Shuttle services
3. What should and could passengers, tourists or hospitality operators request from the transport operator before using the services of a transportation company?
3.1 To see a copy of the road transportation permit. This must be kept on the vehicle at all times. This document will have a red tape standing out with jacquard sides affixed over the face of the permit. Another very important fact is the reverse, which indicates the authorisation of the type of service authorised.
3.2 Ensure that the registration plate of the vehicle corresponds with the number on the permit. Look under vehicle particulars.
3.3 Ensure that the date is current and valid. Look under permit particulars.
3.4 Check on the windscreen or side window for a square sticker. This will bear the permit number and operator’s details. Look under permit holder.
4. Insurance aspects
4.1 Confirmation must be kept on the vehicle in respect of insurance cover. Ask for a copy of such cover. The insurance value should not be less than R1 million per seat (e.g. 8 seats should have R8 million cover).
4.2 The vehicle details (registration number, vehicle description) must be the same as those reflected on the public permit, thus ensuring that the permit and insurance cover correspond. Passengers and hospitality providers must be aware that the in transit insurance cover of the guests could be null and void if they should travel on uninsured transportation.
5. Drivers of public transportation
5.1 All drivers operating public road transportation must be in possession of a valid PDP (public driving permit). This information is displayed on the driver’s license card.
5.2 Ensure that the PDP had not expired.
6. General safety aspects
6.1 Check the general appearance of the vehicle. If you have doubts, do not risk travelling on it.
