Assessing Public Transport Policies for Driver Fitness in the South African Road Transport Context

Abstract

This paper analyses the public transport policies with specific reference to driver fitness. The main purpose of this article is to sketch a holistic policy cycle through a historical overview of policy developments. The complexities of developing policy from the governmental to an operational level were attended to. Directions towards online booking systems and electronic drivers licence cards were established by identifying significant features in the formation of transport policy from the early 1800s to 2022. Primary information was acquired from licensing and road traffic legislation, policy circulars issued by the national Department of Transport as well as official eNaTIS guidelines. The literature found that: (1) the provision of driver fitness and related licensing and transport services remains a crucial challenge for the government, and (2) there is a need for online booking systems and digital driver's licences in all provinces. In essence, the literature review specifies how the history of public transport policies shaped the future of driver fitness in a predominantly new online environment. The primary limitation of this study was that it is a policy review, relying heavily on a document analysis to set the scene for future research. The research results are useful in the legislative environment, law enforcement practice fields, and in scientific research in this area.