Kerala - Kozhikode   

Speed governors made mandatory for school buses in Kozhikode

Staff Reporter

Educational institution vehicles come under scrutiny

Illegal act: An autorickshaw being overloaded with schoolchildren in Kozhikode. — Photo: S. Ramesh kurup

KOZHIKODE: : With the reopening of educational institutions, the focus is once again on the safety measures adopted in vehicles carrying schoolchildren in Kozhikode city.

Most of the autorickshaws, jeeps and truckers hired for transporting schoolchildren in the city have come under scrutiny of the law enforcing agencies. "No specific permission has been given to any type of vehicle to carry schoolchildren except the educational institution buses. But contract vehicles have been asked to strictly comply with the rules regarding the in-take of passengers,'' said P.M. Kamalakshan, Joint Regional Transport Officer.

Apart from autorickshaws, he said, vehicles bracketed under the category of contract carriages have been instructed to avoid congestion and dangerous situation while carrying children.

Complaints galore

However, complaints are rife regarding the rash and reckless driving of drivers, besides the overloading of children in the vehicles.

The department had taken a lenient view in this regard on account of the shortage of staff. Ten vacancies of Motor Vehicles Inspectors were to be filled, said an official of the Motor Vehicles Department.

On regulating the speeding of buses, Mr. Kamalakshan said that the department would insist on speed governors for all educational institution buses during any transaction with the office.

The rule, which came into force from Wednesday (June 1), would be applicable for existing school buses too. For other vehicles, the rule of speed governors will be made effective from September 30, he said.

According to the traffic police, most schools buses are actually converted old buses that are over 15 years old. These vehicles have not been permitted to run as stage carriers.

The number of autorickshaws given permission to ply in the city is 4,101. But a large number of them operate service without the approval of the authorities. "The department has already started issuing "checked slips'' to curb illegal autorickshaws,'' H. Venkatesh, City Police Commissioner, said.

But, the traffic department are not sure about the number of jeeps and trucks plying in the city. Most of them are from the suburbs and the hilly terrains in Kozhikode district. These vehicles operate as school vans during the peak hours and at other times carry other passengers and goods.

As per rule, autorickshaws and jeeps are allowed to carry three and six passengers respectively.

The police have been lenient towards them while carrying schoolchildren.

But of late, it has been found that autorickshaws and jeeps are overloaded with children and their schoolbags.

"Parents as well as the school authorities should be careful in choosing vehicles for sending their to school,'' Mr. Venkatesh said.

He said the drive against overloading and speeding of vehicles carrying schoolchildren will be intensified from next week. Breach of laws regarding permit conditions varies from vehicle to vehicle.

For autorickshaws, the fine is Rs.1000 and for the medium size vehicles it is Rs.2,000. Offenders would think twice before violating the rule a second time, he said.

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Speed governors made mandatory for school buses in Kozhikode

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