The RD Viagens bus company, which was responsible for an accident on the Transbrasiliana Highway in São Paulo, was operating without the required authorization for inter-state chartering, as stated by the Federal Highway Police (PRF). Six people died, and 46 others were injured when the bus, carrying rural workers from Maranhão to Santa Catarina for apple harvest work, encountered a tragic incident. The PRF highlighted that the company did not have the chartering permission from the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) and should have only been operating within the state of Maranhão.

Further investigation revealed that the company has been promoting its weekly travel services via social media, including routes from Maranhão to various cities in southern Brazil. However, RD Viagens had recently acquired the vehicle involved in the accident from another company and was in the process of regularizing its documentation. This discovery raises serious concerns about the safety and legal compliance of bus services catering to rural workers, as well as the measures in place to protect these vulnerable groups during transportation.

The incident highlights ongoing issues of regulatory oversight and the risks associated with illegal transport operations in Brazil. With rural workers increasingly reliant on such transportation to reach employment opportunities, it underscores the need for stronger enforcement of transport regulations to ensure the safety of passengers. The government's response to this tragedy will likely prompt discussions around improving regulations and support for safer transport options for rural laborers.