The state transport department has started organising “sensitising programme” for school bus drivers to ensure safe travel for school children.
Since some schools have already re-opened and others will follow soon, the exercise is aimed at creating awareness amongst the drivers to avoid mishaps. “The transport department, Regional Transport Offices (RTO) and deputy RTOs have organised special training programme, which covers important aspects including safety regulations, duties of drivers, first aid management, etiquette and observing traffic regulations,” said V.N. More, state transport commissioner.
The drivers will also be taught about road signs, markings, mechanical aspects of vehicles, along with safety issues like speeding and overtaking. Recently, two such exercises were held at the RTO office in Vashi, in which 215 drivers participated in training sessions.
“Similar exercises will be conducted at other RTOs this month. We hope that the programme will help prevent accidents,” Mr More said.
The state has also asked school bus owners to abide by certain norms, which include making arrangements to keep school bags under the seats,fire extinguishers near the driver’s seat and having attendants in buses. However, the school bus operators have opposed some of thes norms alleging that government has time and again made changes in the school bus safety policy.
After reports of a spate of accidents involving school buses, the state government had made it mandatory for owners to take adequate steps and also to train drivers. In January this year, five students were injured after the school vehicle collided head on with a speeding tempo in Navi Mumbai. In the same month, two students were seriously injured, after they were hit by a speeding school bus in Kalamboli. A 10-year-old boy, who was travelling in a school bus, died after his head hit a board hanging from a streetlight in November last year.