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Safety of kids in peril
Buses owned by schools and colleges play a vital role in transportation of students. Educational institutions have to take lot of care in the maintenance of buses. Even a single accident can cause a major disaster claiming the lives of children, teachers and the driver who travel by these buses.
Educational institutitions flouting norms
Vijayawada: Buses owned by schools and colleges play a vital role in transportation of students. Educational institutions have to take lot of care in the maintenance of buses. Even a single accident can cause a major disaster claiming the lives of children, teachers and the driver who travel by these buses.
Two major highways, Kolkata-Chennai and Chennai-Hyderabad pass via the Krishna district. Besides, traffic has also increased in and around Vijayawada city. In this backdrop, the schools and colleges must obtain fitness certificates and appoint trained drivers for the safety of children and teachers.
In Krishna district, more than hundred school vehicles are yet to get fitness certificates (FC) from the Road Transport Authority (RTA). This clearly shows the negligent attitude of the managements of the institutions. To get the fitness certificate, the educational institutions must comply with the rules of Andhra Pradesh Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, 185 (G).
Speaking to The Hans India here on Thursday, RTA administrative officer Ram Mohan Rao said that the transport department was very strict on issuing FCs to the vehicles carrying the students and further added that stringent action would be taken against them if the vehicles ply without valid fitness certificates.
He said that out of 1,773 buses belonging to various institutions in Vijayawada city, 1,629 vehicles had obtained FCs till now and further said that out of 2,589 buses in Krishna district, 2,340 had obtained FCs.
Explaining the conditions in obtaining the FCs, Rao said that the driver of the bus should have a valid driving licence verified by the RTA officers with a minimum experience of five years and should not be more than 60 years of age. The management of the institution should maintain a health card for the driver, along with general health check-up like sugar, BP and eye sight, he added.
He said that the parent’s committee should be informed about the driver and his details. Also, the principal and parents would be allowed to inspect the vehicles every month.
Besides, one attendant for each bus was compulsory and the attendant should not be allowed to drive at any point of time and there would be a separate dress code for both the driver and attendant, he said.
Ram Mohan Rao said that all the doors of the schools buses would be fitted with safe locking system and the footboard steps shall be 325 mm from the ground with hand rails along the steps for the convenience of the passengers.
All the drivers should undergo a one-day refresher training course in the month of April/May every year which is organised by JTC/DTC/RTO. Road safety classes should be held for the students in consultation with the transport department, police department and education department, he added.
By C Pradeep
