Introduction

As hundreds of thousands of Saudi boys and girls return to schools with the beginning of the new academic year 1446 on Sunday, August 18, the Transport General Authority (TGA) has issued strict regulations for educational transportation.

Regulatory Requirements

The regulations stipulate that drivers must be at least 25 years old, in addition to holding a driver's permit, a valid driving license, and a certificate confirming no criminal record. Drivers are also required to complete an approved first aid course, pass a medical examination conducted by the authority, pass a professional competency test, and any other tests or training courses specified by the TGA.

Required Equipment and Safety Measures

The authority emphasized that all educational staff and students should only engage with legal transport carriers to ensure their safety and the availability of high-quality and efficient transport services. Licensed transport operators must implement all technical equipment and safety tools for educational buses, including buses with a capacity of more than 15 seats, as well as buses with fewer than 15 seats and vans with up to 9 seats.

Safety Equipment

These requirements include having safety tools on the bus, tracking devices linked to the Wasl platform, cameras inside the bus, and a school bus signboard on the sides and back of the bus in a reflective color, along with other equipment to ensure a safe trip for passengers.

Inspection and Compliance

The authority is intensifying its inspection tours of buses designated for educational transportation to ensure compliance with its approved regulatory requirements and standards. The authority also provides a facility for communication through beneficiary care platforms, such as the unified number 19929 for inquiries, comments, or reporting violations by carriers in this vital activity, or through the authority’s official website tga.gov.sa.

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