THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Close on the heels of the police drive which led to taking action against 36 schoolbus drivers for drunken driving in four districts and two drivers in the rural limits of the capital, city police commissioner G Sparjan Kumar has given instructions to keep a regular check on schoolbuses.
The commissioner issued the directive on Monday after he received several complaints regarding inebriated schoolbus drivers. Last week, the Ernakulam range IG P Vijayan had instructed the district police chiefs of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Idukki and Kottayam to conduct a drive.
Sparjan Kumar told ‘Express’ he had instructed the local police and highway patrolling teams to carry out inspections at regular intervals. But he expressed concerns over the manpower shortage caused by the strike at Law Academy Law College.
“I have given the necessary instructions. But there are some limitations regarding the police personnel available for carrying out inspections. Though we have launched the drive, it will take a few days for the initiative to gain momentum,’’ he said. Kumar also said strict instructions have been given to cancel the licence of inebriated drivers. ‘’We have intimated the RTOs concerned,’’ he said.
The checks which were limited to evenings are likely to be extended to the morning hours, though only occasionally. Increasing number of cases are detected during daytime checks. What’s worrying is that schoolbus and ambulance drivers are found to be breaking the law in the city.
The city police have also initiated measures to inform the school authorities to identify such drivers in their institutions. On Monday, the Rural police inspected around 60 schoolbuses under Kattakkada and Maranalloor police station limits and found two drivers under the influence of alcohol. The inspection was held from 8 am to 10 am.