Strict action will be taken against drivers and owners of carriage vehicles transporting students, members of public and labourers, said C. Manoharan, District Collector. Presiding over a coordination meeting on road safety convened here on Thursday, Mr. Manoharan referred to the tragedy on Pudukottai-Aranthangi highway on Wednesday following a collision involving a milk van and a bus killing eight persons, including seven students on board the van and said that passengers should not be allowed to board the carriage vehicle. Strict action would be taken against the drivers and owners of such vehicles flouting the road safety norms. The Collector directed the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation authorities and the private fleet owners to stop the vehicles at all bus stops, facilitating the passengers to board or alight from the vehicles. The buses should be operated as per speed norms stipulated.
The Collector specifically advised the TNSTC checking inspectors not only to check passenger tickets but also to ensure prompt service at all bus stops, without giving room for any complaints about skipping of bus stops by drivers.
Speed governors
Pointing out that over-speeding was one of the reasons contributing to the road accidents in several cases, the Collector ordered all private bus operators to fit speed governors in their buses and abide by road safety rules.
“Any violation in the road safety rules will lead to cancellation of licenses,” he warned.
Appeal to schools
The Collector also appealed to the managements of schools and teachers to advise their students not to board carriage vehicles but to utilise only the government and private bus services. He underlined the role of parents in exercising vigil in this regard.
K.P. Krishnan, MLA, V.C. Ramaiah, District Panchayat president, N. Balagurunathan, Regional Transport Officer, and T. Pushparaj, president of Private Bus Owners Association, were present.
