The city traffic police have cautioned operators of mini-buses and autorickshaws transporting school students against carrying more number of children than that is legally permitted in their vehicles.
A press note here said children should not be made to share the driver's seat or sit on the sidebars of the passenger seat in an autorickshaw. Vehicles bringing children to school should not be parked in a haphazard manner, either on the road or on the roadside.
The cleaners of mini-buses should help children cross the road and the drivers should ensure that all children are safely across before they start the vehicle. Vehicles bringing children to school should let them disembark only at designated places. After this, the vehicles should be driven away from that spot, the press note said. Stringent action will be initiated against the operators of vehicles without permits and fitness certificates.
The press note called upon the school authorities to engage the services of a traffic warden or security staff to help children cross the road in front of the school. This will be in addition to the assistance rendered by the traffic police.
Students should cross the road only at zebra crossings. Vehicles should halt for them and other pedestrians to cross the road.
Parents and school authorities should take special care to ensure that students without driving licences do not drive to school. Stringent action would be initiated against students found violating this stipulation. Similarly, students who resort to speeding and carry more than one pillion rider would be proceeded against, the press note said.
The police will curb speeding by private buses. Action will be initiated against crews which do not allow students to board these buses and stop the buses for them and those who misbehave with students. Such incidents can be reported to the traffic police station on ph: 1099 or 255 8721/24/26/31.
