Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal on Saturday issued instructions to take stringent action against rash drivers of school transport vehicles, including buses, vans, and autorickshaws. This directive came after Singal spotted an autorickshaw carrying school students driving on the wrong side of the road in Gittikhadan, prompting him to alert the traffic wing to track down the vehicle.
An offence was registered at Gittikhadan police station against an autorickshaw driver transporting school students. Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal has mandated a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for traffic violations involving school transport.
The city police are also advising parents to engage verified transport operators and responsible drivers for their children and warn against drivers with unscrupulous attitudes and habits. Strict action will be taken against those driving under the influence of alcohol.
On Saturday, autorickshaw driver Pravin Dhewdhonde was apprehended and charged with rash and dangerous driving at Gittikhadan police station for endangering students’ lives. A proposal to cancel his driving licence has been forwarded to the Regional Transport Office. Following frequent student-related accidents, Commissioner Singal had previously instructed the traffic wing to rigorously enforce rules on school transport drivers.
A joint meeting with school transport owners, management, regional transport authorities, city police, and the traffic wing, chaired by Singal, established safety guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for school transport. The meeting emphasized the need for technically sound vehicles with up-to-date documents and instructed bus operators to deploy women contractors for vehicles carrying girl students, along with additional staff to assist drivers.
Despite safety measures, accidents involving school transport vehicles are frequent. Buses, autorickshaws, and vans ferrying students have also ended up injuring passers-by and damaging other vehicles in accidents.