DCP (crime and traffic) K Ravi Shankar addresses the gathering at a special awareness programme on school bus safety organised by Mangaluru City traffic police at the Kudmul Ranga Rao Town Hall in Mangaluru on Wednesday
Mangaluru: Mangaluru City traffic police organised a special awareness programme on school bus safety at the Kudmul Ranga Rao Town Hall on Wednesday, with around 600 school bus drivers, owners, managers and representatives of school managements from various schools in the city participating. DCP (crime and traffic) K Ravi Shankar stressed the need for schools and colleges to ensure compliance with the Karnataka Motor Vehicles (Conditions for Vehicles Engaged in Transport of School Children) Rules, 2012.
Officials from the regional transport department said that only vehicles with valid permits should be used to transport schoolchildren, and urged schools to ensure compliance with other prescribed safety measures. The programme focused on the legal requirements, road safety measures, traffic rules and responsibilities that school bus drivers and attendants must follow to ensure the safe transportation of children. School managements were urged to strictly adhere to prescribed safety standards for school vehicles, closely monitor the duties of drivers and attendants, and take all necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety of students. Police warned that legal action will be taken against school bus drivers found violating traffic rules. Participants were administered a road safety and traffic rules pledge. The school cab safety committees were asked to verify the authenticity of vehicle and driver documents, and ensure that vehicles have valid fitness certificates and insurance, fire extinguishers, speed governors and closed bodies. ACP (traffic subdivision) Najma Farooqi, urged drivers to not only follow traffic regulations, but also discharge their duties with discipline and responsibility, while ensuring the safety of children. Traffic police station inspectors from across Mangaluru city, and officials from the education department were present.