Safety Measures For Buses

The State government is mulling over a proposal to amend the Motor Vehicle Act 185, which, if implemented, will make it mandatory for all educational institutions to carry full particulars in respect of school or college, on the left hand side of the windshield of school buses.

The rationale behind this proposal is that access to such information will help rescue teams to inform the managements of the school or college and provide offer quick relief to the victims of accidents. This would also facilitate all concerned to swing into action immediately.

The State government will, according to informed sources, invite suggestions from all concerned within a month.

Once the draft proposal is ready with commissions and omissions, the existing MV Act shall be amended by the government.

The government's moves are seen to have come in the light of the increasing accident rates in the megacity.

The proposal is also seen as an effort to ease concerns about accidents, and as part of the wider aim of putting an end to reckless driving as far as possible.

Once the draft amendment is affected, it will be mandatory for all buses (of both schools and colleges) transporting students to display the school or college name, telephone number and mobile number on the left hand side as well as the rear of the vehicle.

Besides this, the driver's age should be restricted to 60 years or below.

The draft proposal further states that the managements of the educational institutes will have to issue a health card to all the drivers. The proposal also makes it mandatory for periodical check-ups to examine the driver's blood pressure and gauge whether the driver is diabetic.

Every 3 months, drivers' vision tests shall be conducted, the proposal states.

Schools and colleges are required to appoint drivers with a minimum experience of 5 years with a genuine licence. The driver's details will have to be shared with the parents.

One parent or a teacher, by rotation, including an attendant in uniform, will have to travel in the bus, according to the proposal.

Each bus should have an emergency exit, first-aid material and a list of students travelling in the bus along with their particulars.

Buses are expected to carry a fire extinguisher, the route map, inter alia.

Principal Secretary, (Transport), will receive the suggestions at the Secretariat.

Courtesy: INN