With only few days remaining for schools to reopen, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) authorities have issued a set of guidelines for school bus service.
“The MVD conducted a workshop for representatives of PTA and school managements last week. If any school management is found flouting the guidelines, we will initiate action including suspension of permit and cancellation of driving license of the driver,” said Deputy Transport Commissioner
P A Sainuddin.
The DTC further recommended that school authorities or the PTA may carry out inspections to ensure that the service and the behaviour of the attendees and the drivers are satisfactory. The copies of the guidelines have been distributed to representatives of PTAs to help them keep a tab on the vehicles.
According to Sainuddin the number of school vehicles registered under Ernakulam RTO is 750. “This excludes the number of private and contract carriages. Including them the total number of vehicles will be more than 2000. It is compulsory for each class teacher to keep a register of the details of the vehicle number, both school bus and private bus, driver’s license number and mobile number”.
The MVD had recently launched a pre-monsoon inspection on public carriages, including school buses. The inspection drive was aimed at reducing accidents during monsoon.
“While scrutinising the basic reasons for accidents during monsoon it has been found that worn-out tyres, defective wipers, lighting system and worn-out side curtains were major causes. If the vehicles are kept fit as per standards, the number of accidents during monsoon can be curbed,” Sainuddin said.
The public can respond against rash driving to the mobile enforcement squad at 8547639107 or 8547639121.