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| Parents seek safe transportation of children | | Private schools play with students' lives | |  Arun Trisal
Early Times Report
Kathua, May 31:-Many cab and buses openly flout traffic rules and court guidelines on transportation of school children.
Private schools demand hefty amounts for transportation charges but don't provide school buses with facilities sought by the honorable Supreme Court. Many incidents occurred in previous years due to overloading by private transporters. It is not possible for transporters to pick up students of any school without the permission of school management. Managements recommend buses, collect huge fees from parents and pay peanuts to transporters who then violate norms to make a quick buck.
Cramped autos, cabs and buses ferrying students squeezed into the vehicle along with their school bags is a common sight in the city. The most common violation, traffic police authorities say, is overloading. The rules specify that the number of children in the vehicle should not exceed one and half times the permitted seating capacity if the children are below 12 years. Each child above 12 should be treated as one person.
Some schools in Kathua city have limited transport facility. A major mishap occurred at Kalibari Chowk few months ago but the school management that had recommended the cab, refused to accept responsibility of the incident.
The rules also specify formation of a School Cabs Safety Committee, which should comprise parents, private cab drivers and school staff, in each institution to look into safety aspects, transportation fee and identification of bus stops. However, many school heads in the city did not appear to be even aware of this.
The School cabs shall be fitted with speed governors with maximum speed limit of 40 kmph, the age of school vehicle shall not be more than 15 years, the body of school cab shall be highway yellow color with a horizontal strip in green color of 150 mm wide in the middle all around the vehicle and the words "SCHOOL CAB" shall be prominently displayed on all four sides of the vehicle. If age of school children is below 12 years, the number of children carried shall not exceed 1 and a half time the permitted seating capacity. School children above 12 years shall be treated as one person, In case of vehicle fitted with LPG kit, the authorized LPG kit to be installed and certified by the Registering Authority, Tinted or colored glass is not permitted. The school bus should not alter the seating capacity. The driver of a school cab must have a valid license to drive LMV transport vehicles for a period of at least four years.
Driver should compulsorily wear light blue shirt, light blue trouser and black shoes. His nameplate should also be displayed on the shirt, there shall be sufficient space provided to keep school bags inside the vehicle. The name, address and telephone number of the permit holder shall be painted or placed on the school cab in a visible manner. The vehicle which is to be used as school cab shall be a closed body type with hard top. No vehicle with canvas hood can be permitted to carry the children.
It is surprising that when the menace was highlighted before RTO Lakhanpur and DIT Traffic Police; they feigned ignorance.
Regional Transport Officer, Lakhanpur Kathua expressed concern over the violation of traffic rules and Apex Court guidance by private schools including Army Public School and KV Public schools in Kathua and Infant Jesus Hr Sec School, Hiranagar.
However, Md Nazir Sheikh Regional Transport Officer RTO in Kathua conceded that violations are rampant and there is a need to raise awareness among all the stakeholders, including parents, schools managements and cab or bus drivers. He ensured to take serious action against violators.
Manprit Singh, Traffic Police Officer, had similar views and ensured to impose heavy fine against violation of traffic guidelines. He said Police took serious step to control on menace and drive will be continued in days to come. He instructed School managements to follow traffic rule otherwise buses would be ceased in future. |
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