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Heading towards danger in top gear

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

Cause for concern: Children travelling in overcrowded autorickshaws are courting danger.

PUDUCHERRY: It’s not uncommon to see autorickshaws packed with schoolchildren plying at breakneck speed, endangering their lives and violating all traffic rules. With no serious steps taken by authorities to put an end to the brazen violation, such incidents have become rampant.

“It is common to see autorickshaws packed with children. These children are saddled with tiffin boxes and heavy schoolbags. Some of these autorickshaws carry 10 to 12 children. As there is limited space available, children are made to sit at the vestibules . They sway when the driver applies the brake or negotiates a curve,” said a traffic personnel deployed near a leading private school.

Though the Motor Vehicle Act permits only three adults to travel in the autorickshaw, the Road Transport Department allows them to take four to five children.

“However, people take advantage of it and pack children in the vehicle like sardines,” he said.

A teacher of a school in the town limits said that students studying in primary classes from LKG to Standard V travelled in fully packed autorickshaws, unaware of the dangers involved.

“Parents should avoid sending their children in overloaded autorickshaws. The problem is that many parents are not aware of the number of children travelling in the vehicles along with their kids. The practice is dangerous,” he said.

Teachers should be told to advise parents not to send their children in overloaded autorickshaws.

“Class teachers know the transport modality of their students. They have a record of students travelling by autorickshaws and those coming to school with their parents. They have to act according to that,” a teacher said.

Superintendent of Police (Traffic) I.R.C. Mohan said that it was a delicate issue to handle.

When there were complaints in the past, the traffic police attempted to seize such vehicles. But, they had to call off the drive after children panicked and started crying.

“The moment we stopped a vehicle, students started screaming just looking at us. And, if we seize the vehicle, the children will be left midway,” he said.

Senior officials in the traffic police said that the Transport Department could handle the situation in a better way. “In fact, we have asked the RTO authorities to trace the autorickshaws violating the rule and impose a hefty fine. They alone can trace the number of the vehicles and address from their data bank,” officials said.

Mr. Mohan said that they could conduct the drive only when school authorities and parents cooperate with the traffic police. “Prime responsibility lies with the parents. They should realise that it is unsafe for their wards to travel in an over crowded autorickshaw,” he said.

Before the beginning of the next academic session, the traffic police would conduct an awareness programme for autorickshaw drivers and parents, he added.

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