Hyderabad: Cases Registered Against 1500 Drivers For Ferrying Extra Students In School Vehicles

The Hyderabad police, on Wednesday (June 12, 2019) launched a special drive to ensure the safety of school children in the city.

“During the first four days of the drive, we have registered cases against more than 1500 drivers of school buses and other vehicles. The arrests have been made in relation to drivers ferrying extra school children, not having fitness certificate, or not wearing uniforms,” told Hyderabad Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Anil Kumar to The Logical Indian.

For the drive, twenty-five teams of traffic police have collaborated with six teams of transport department to conduct checking of school vehicles in the city. “Every year, after a new session begins, we launch special drives to ensure the safety of students,” said Hyderabad Additional Commissioner (Traffic).

According to an India Today report, in 2018, as many as 643 cases were registered by the Hyderabad traffic police in the first two days of the special drive, carried out to prevent accidents by vehicles carrying school children.

Special Drive By Traffic Police

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2007 to 2016, 1,282 people died in school transportation-related crashes. Out of 118 – that had died in school transportation vehicles, 50 were drivers and 68 were children/students.

To keep the number of casualties low, special drives across India are carried out to keep rash drivers out of roads, encourage riders to wear a helmet or follow traffic norms. At the same time, there are a few cities similar to Hyderabad where the traffic department have taken upon themselves to ensure that drivers of school vehicles are following proper guidelines to ensure the safety of children.

Special Drive In Bengaluru

Last year, the Bengaluru Traffic Police had conducted a special drive against school buses and other vehicles. The police had booked 4,446 drivers for carrying more than the prescribed number of children, reported The Hindu. Vehicles with no insurance and proper documents were booked, and owners were slapped notices to appear in court to pay fines.

According to a senior official, the drive was conducted to spread awareness among the drivers.

Special Drive In Jammu

To ensure safety measures for school going children, a similar drive was conducted by Jammu traffic police in 2017.

The drive was conducted outside Jodhamal Public School, Channi; Heritage School, Sainik Colony; Guru Gobind HSS, Kunjwani; DPS School, Residency Road; Luthra Academy, Kachi Chowni; Dream Land Public School, Janipur; K.C. International/ KC Public School/ KC Gurukul, Paloura; Army School, Domana; Govt. Hr. Sec School, Domana; St. Peter School, Jewel Chowk; Model Academy; St. Xavier Convent School, Barnai; K.V No.1&2, Gandhi Nagar.

During the drive, 77 School Buses/Mini Buses/Bikes/Autos were seized on the spot for violating the M.V. Act besides more than 150 vehicles had to pay the challan, reported Daily Excelsior.

Also Read: Mumbai’s Traffic Jams Is The Worst In The World, Says Report