The morning rush, the afternoon hustle! Every day, millions of South African families pile into cars, buses or taxis for the school run, facing the usual road risks. As a parent or driver, are you prepared for an unexpected accident? Are your young passengers as protected as they could be?

Every year, over 1300 school children lose their lives in road traffic incidents nationwide, with many suffering life-altering injuries. Most of these tragedies are preventable with the right habits and real protection in place.

Smart Driving Tips for School Runs

accidentANGELS are passionate about helping families travel smarter and safer. Here’s how to make sure your ride is ready:

  1. Buckle Up: South African law mandates that all occupants wear seatbelts, and children under 3 years old must be secured in the appropriate child restraint system (car seat). Regulation 213 of the National Road Traffic Act also notes that drivers are legally responsible for ensuring that every passenger under the age of 14 is properly restrained. Research shows that wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of fatal injury in case of a car accident by up to 45% for front-seat occupants and 75% for back-seat passengers.
  2. Plan Your Route: Avoid high-risk intersections, busy taxi ranks, and poorly controlled traffic areas where a car accident would be more likely. Take a few minutes before you leave home to plan the safest way to school. Make sure you know where the school’s designated drop-off zones are and entrances with clear pedestrian crossings, as well as parent patrols or staff on duty.
  3. Stay Off Your Phone: Sending a message, voice note or checking for directions “for just a second” can be risky. Even a two-second distraction can increase your risk of crashing. As a parent/driver, you must keep your phone on silent and in driving mode. Set your playlist and GPS before you start the car. Distractions remain a top cause of car accidents in the country, and even hands-free devices can reduce attention by up to 37%.
  4. Do Not Rush: Leaving the house late may cause panic, and that’s when many drivers are more prone to take risks like speeding, jumping red lights, or aggressive lane changes. Set your alarms earlier, prep lunches and school bags the night before and aim to leave 10 minutes earlier.
  5. Safe Drop-offs: Always load and unload children on the pavement side (not traffic) outside school. Even in a school zone, rushing kids across open lanes or blocking traffic can create danger. Teach young passengers early: The way to cross a road, buckling up, and not flinging the doors open to rush out. Kids are impulsive, can run, trip and step without checking.

accidentANGELS: Proud to Partner with G.E.T.S

accidentANGELS proudly supports G.E.T.S. (Gauteng Education Transport Services), a trusted name in quality educational transport for safe door-to-door learner transport across Gauteng. With ANGELS looking after these school runs, families can feel more confident that their children are in safe hands on the road with reliable operators backed by quality benefits.

Families can also opt into our affordable family motor vehicle accident plan with these benefits:

  • Emergency transport to a private hospital in case of a road accident
  • Guaranteed private hospitalisation admission (skip public hospital queues)
  • Up to R200 000 in-patient funds on our R149pm plan (or R1 million on our R259pm plan)
  • Add a dependant for only R99pm
  • Immediate R10 000 outpatient treatment costs
  • Child Minder feature in case your child is in the car during an accident and is unharmed. We go the extra mile to ensure that they are cared for and safe until a family member can be by their side.

School runs should be about chatting about the day ahead and radio sing-alongs, knowing your loved ones are protected. With safer transport choices and driving habits, you can focus on your family without the worry of ‘what ifs’.