Mangalore: RTO chalks out safety rules for school buses, warns violators of action
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, May 28: The district administration and the road transport authority will take tough measures to ensure safety of school and college students while they are transported by school buses and taxies," said C Mallikarjuna, road transportation officer (RTO).
He was addressing the preliminary meeting on ‘Road safety guidelines on transporting school children by school buses and taxies’ to school heads, staff and BEOs in district commissioner office here in the city here on Tuesday May 28.
"We have come across many road accidents, especially the gruesome death of school children in Ulaibettu bus incident. To put a complete end to such accidents, the Supreme Court, the high court and other commissions have issued certain guidelines on road safety while transporting school and college children by school buses, cabs, and autos," he said, adding that the issue was very important and asserting that vehicles that transport school children should mandatorily follow certain rules and regulations.
Accordingly, schools were directed to follow these guidelines:
- The school bus should be painted in highway yellow colour, with the words ‘school bus’ on all four sides of the bus. Name, phone number of the particular school should be clearly painted on the bus.
- There should be an emergency exit in bus, and the word ‘emergency exit’ should be written above the exit door.
- The windows should be protected with horizontal iron grills, so as to prevent children from putting their hands out.
- The school bus should compulsorily possess a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.
- The children should not be overcrowded in the bus, hence guidelines should be followed in filling the seats.
- The driver should possess authentic licence, renewed witness certificate, insurance and other documents.
- The bus should possess a secure door lock or pneumatic lock system.
- One seat for conductor or school staff should be near the door.
- The school bus driver should have minimum 5 years of experience in driving.
- Separate compartment under seat should be made to load the school bags and other belongings of children.
- The schools should possess all information about the driver’s documents and maintain perfect records.
All these regulations must be compulsorily followed by the end of this month (May 31). From next week the transport authority and the district administration will examine the school buses to ensure that all these requirements are fulfilled, and any violation will be dealt with strictly, even leading to cancellation of licence, Mallikarjun said.
Guidelines for private cabs/taxies
Mallikarjuna also said that private cabs/taxies should carry ‘School Cab’ boards that are 100 mm, with green coloured sticker pasted on all sides. The drivers should wear light blue shirt and light blue trousers with shoes along name badge.
A special committee should also be formed in schools including the members of parent-teachers' association to implement safety measures and it should be active in examining the records, documents of taxies and auto drivers.
Auto Rickshaws: Auto rickshaws should carry only minimum number of children and follow guidelines.
Additional deputy commissioner Dayananda said these rules will be implemented strictly with immediate effect for two reasons - education institutions are on verge of reopening and monsoon is just beginning. "Safety of school children is very important. Parents send their children to school with different aspirations and it is our duty to provide safety measures," he said.
"During emergencies like flood and natural calamities the BEO can decide on holiday for schools and need not approach the district administration," he added.
Traffic police ACP Subramanya said the drivers should check the condition of vehicles in advance and should not cross speed limits.