VIJAYAWADA: Officials of the Transport Department have stressed the need to improve the awareness of the drivers of Educational Institution Buses (EIBs)about safety rules as per the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
Terming the accident as a disaster, regional transport officer CHVK Subba Rao said that no major accident involving any school or college bus in the district had been recorded in the past year.
According to the statistics obtained from the Transport Department, of the 2,160 EIBs in the district, only 1,885 have obtained the fitness certificate this year.
The RTO also said that a ‘185-G register’ was issued to all the educational institutions and added that motor vehicle inspectors should conduct inspection drives on a regular basis in order to ensure that drivers are following the guidelines mentioned in the register.
“Stringent action will be taken against institutions which do not maintain 185-G register, which is a guideline book comprising rules, regulations and safety norms that are to be employed by the educational institutions in the district,” they said.
According to Section 131 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, the cleaner or conductor of the bus must walk up to the level-crossing and ensure that no train or trolley is approaching from either side before the railway track is crossed.
Speaking on the railway level-crossings, Subba Rao said, “Drivers must watch out for speed-breakers and special signboards at the unmanned level-crossing zones which will prevent such accidents.”
He also attributed the major accidents to the negligence of drivers and added that the drivers must be aware of guidelines in the 185-G register to avoid such accidents.
He also said that safe transportation of school and college students is the top priority of the government.
Straight Facts
Total number of Educational Institution Buses (EIBs) in the district: 2,160
Number of buses which obtained fitness certificate: 1,885
Number of cases registered for irregularities: 39
Number of EIB seized for violating the norms: 24
Number of EIB licences cancelled due to over-age: 200