Pretoria: A high number of private scholar transport operators continue to exhibit an intractable attitude and unwillingness to comply with passenger regulation, despite high-profile fatal crashes and intensified law enforcement.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) observations are supported by statistics from law enforcement operations conducted in all provinces last week. Of the 5,386 scholar transport vehicles stopped and checked, 1,028 vehicles were found to have been operated in violation of existing traffic laws.

Most of these vehicles (589) were privately owned, while 146 were contracted by parents, 95 were contracted by the Department of Transport, 11 were contracted by the Department of Basic Education, and seven were school-owned. Many were found to be operating without the necessary public scholar transport permits, while others were driven by drivers who did not possess or failed to produce driving licenses and professional driving permits, the RTMC said on Monday.

The vehicles were found to have multiple defects relating to tyres, brakes, and rear stop lamps. Law enforcement issued 500 traffic fines, 219 vehicles were impounded, and two vehicles were discontinued. Most transgressors were found to be between the ages of 18 and 35 years, followed by those aged between 35 and 45 years.

Meanwhile, 418 other motorists were arrested for drunken driving in the same week. The highest number of drunken driving arrests was in the Eastern Cape, while Mpumalanga impounded and discontinued the highest number of vehicles.