The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : School van driver was under the influence of liquor, say police

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Wednesday, Jun 27, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

School van driver was under the influence of liquor, say police

Staff Reporter

Civic authorities asked to put up speedbreaker near accident spot

Chennai: Medical examination of the driver of a school van which overturned in Chetpet on Monday, injuring eight students, has revealed that he was under the “influence of liquor.”

The private van was dropping students of three schools that it had picked up in and around McNichols Road at their homes. It overturned when the driver Thayumanavan attempted to avoid a goods vehicle coming in the opposite direction. The children were pulled out of the van and admitted to a hospital.

Except for three children who complained of some uneasiness, the others were discharged after a thorough examination.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Commissioner of Police Letika Saran said the tests conducted at the hospital showed that the driver had consumed liquor. “We will take stern action as per the law,” she said. Cases of driving while intoxicated and rash and negligent driving have been registered against the driver.

On steps being taken to prevent accidents involving vehicles carrying school children, she said Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Sunil Kumar and his officers had already spoken to all schools in the city on the need to ensure the safety of the children.

Whether they travelled in private vans or vehicles belonging to the schools, the drivers and attendants should be subject to checks and drills regularly, she said.

Mr Sunil Kumar said kerb stones had been placed at the spot where the van overturned last evening.

“We have also asked the authorities concerned to lay speed breakers on the blind stretch along the Pachayappa’s College Hostel Road, off McNichols Road, to cut speeding and prevent mishaps.”

Task Force

The School Education Department had constituted a task force to study the incidence of fatal road accidents involving school children last July. Members of the Task Force, which is chaired by Mr. Kumar, is scheduled to submit its recommendations.

Schools heads, Parent Teacher Association members and authorities after several consultation meetings, put together a list of recommendations including regular medical check-ups for drivers of school vans and buses. An arrangement where the renewal of licences would be linked to the drivers’ health was also suggested.

Once the report is submitted, the Department will scrutinise the recommendations and issue orders for implementation.

However, even after nearly a year, the report has not been submitted. Mr Kumar said the report would be submitted soon.

“We wake up to the seriousness of the situation only after a few lives are lost. If this report was submitted earlier, schools in the State would have a uniform practice in place from the beginning of the new academic year,” said a school principal.

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