Little done to check safety violations in Mohali school buses, say road safety experts
As per Mohali district protection officer (DCPO) Navpreet Kaur, a total of 51 buses were checked in nearly two months, out of which seven were challaned for violations. The DCPO said four of the buses were challaned for not having first-aid kits till April 24.
Even as the Panchkula school bus accident, reported last week, sent alarm bells ringing, little is being done on ground to ensure the safety of school students.
In Mohali, though the administration claims to be regularly conducting inspections in school buses, road safety activists point out that most of the checking happens when the buses are off-duty and not when it is ferrying students.
As per Mohali district protection officer (DCPO) Navpreet Kaur, a total of 51 buses were checked in nearly two months, out of which seven were challaned for violations.
The DCPO said four of the buses were challaned for not having first-aid kits till April 24.
She added that while no checking was conducted in the month of March due to exams and new admission sessions, 22 buses were checked and three challans were issued in the month February.
As per the direction, school buses are checked under the supervision of DCPO.
Deputy commissioner Aashika Jain asked the traffic police to keep a check on ‘Jugaad (makeshift) school vehicles’ that are putting children’s lives at risk.
“We are keeping a check on buses, but what about vans and autorickshaws in which schoolchildren are packed like sardines? We need to crack the whip on such violators,” said the DC.
She directed the traffic police and regional transport authority (RTA) to take stern action against violators who endanger the commuters’ lives.
Road safety experts in the city complained that violations such as overloading and speeding by school buses were going unchecked.
According to Harpreet Singh, a road safety activist, officials conduct cosmetic checks on school buses. “The team merely checks whether cameras, GPS, and speed governors are installed in the vehicle or not; they do not check whether these are working or not,” said Harpreet, adding that it is no secret that majority of the school buses ferry more children than their actual capacity. “However, these violations are not reported. If the law does not permit stopping the vehicle (carrying schoolchildren) midway, then these vehicles should be checked before leaving schools,” he said.
The Safe School Vahan policy requires school buses to have a stop signal, driver and staff in uniforms, a speed governor and to be painted in yellow. Moreover, these buses should have emergency exits, and the windows should be fitted with horizontal grills.
