RISKING THEIR SAFETY: Autorickshaws packed with schoolchildren are a common sight in cities.

Thiruvananthapuram: Overcrowding in vehicles transporting students to educational institutions and the use of autorickshaws, vans, minibuses and taxis to ferry children, violating Supreme Court directives and permit rules, have turned out to be a matter of concern for the law enforcing agencies.

The accident involving a van carrying school children on the Kovalam-Inchivila NH 47 bypass, between Vellar and Kovalam junctions, on Monday has once again exposed the risk involved. Thirty-eight students of the Government High School, Vazhamuttom, sustained injuries in the incident.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the 11-seater van was overcrowded and over speeding was the cause of the accident. The `cleaner' was driving the van at the time of the accident, as the regular driver did not report for duty. An official of the Motor Vehicles Department said they had not been able to `trace the cleaner.'

Guidelines

Transport planners say accidents involving vehicles transporting schoolchildren can be avoided if the authorities take steps to implement the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court. The Apex Court had issued the guidelines in the wake of an accident in which 28 schoolchildren were killed when the vehicle carrying them fell into the Yamuna in 1997.

As per the guidelines, only those with five years of experience as heavy vehicle drivers should be allowed to drive vehicles transporting schoolchildren. Drivers booked twice for traffic-related offences should not be put on duty and school buses should not exceed the speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour.

The Apex Court had also made it mandatory to equip vehicles carrying schoolchildren with first aid boxes, fire extinguishers, grills on windows, school bag tray under the seat and provision for water.

Besides, it has also been made compulsory that school buses should be painted cream and the name of the school and telephone number should be clearly written on the bus. For hired vehicles, a board stating that it is on `school duty' should be placed while transporting schoolchildren.

In the absence of effective crackdown by the traffic police and officials of the Motor Vehicles Department on illegal services, more and more people are entering this lucrative business.

The convenience of picking up schoolchildren from their doorstep and cheap rates has resulted in the mushrooming of illegal services.

Autorickshaws with children sitting on both sides of the driver's seat and bags hung all over and Omni vans carrying over two dozen students with bags loaded on top are a regular sight these days. Even reputed schools carry more than the permitted number of children in their buses.

In the illegal services operated using Omini vans and taxis the driver doubles as `cleaner.' Sometimes senior students are given the role of the cleaner. They open and close the door for other students, help them to place the bags on top and give the signal for the driver to move by tapping on the vehicle, as a cleaner would do.

Every year, about 2,400 students get involved in road accidents in the vicinity of educational institutions in the State, according to statistics compiled by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac).

Regional Transport Officer, Thiruvananthapuram, N. Kesavan told The Hindu that the Motor Vehicles Department has commenced a drive to bring to book the errant drivers in the wake of Monday's accident. Action will be taken against those found violating the permit rules, he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail