With the new academic year just a week away, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has gone into overdrive to complete the inspection of educational institution vehicles and contract carriages engaged in the transportation of students.
While the inspection is already under way, a special inspection clinic for vehicles has been scheduled for this Saturday at Rajagiri School followed by an awareness session for drivers and ayahs engaged in these vehicles.
“Operational condition of speed governors, stocking of first-aid kit and overall mechanical and physical condition of vehicles will be inspected. We plan to check all vehicles deployed for the transportation of students by this month end and those found fit for operations will be issued stickers,” said Reji P. Varghese, Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer.
According to the data available with MVD, over 1,000 educational institution vehicles have been registered within the Ernakulam RTO limits alone in addition to countless contract carriages roped in both by schools and parents.
Steps will be taken to ensure that only drivers with ten years of experience are behind the wheels of light motor vehicles used to transport students while drivers of heavy vehicles should have a minimum of five years’ experience. MVD has issued detailed guidelines to schools and employees of vehicles. For instance, when young children have to cross roads, the ayahs deployed in vehicles should ensure that they safely reach the other side of the road.
Mr. Varghese said that the Deputy Director of Education would issue the guidelines during a meeting to be held with school principals. School authorities are required to keep complete details of contract carriages transporting their students and furnish them to MVD officials on demand. A PTA member of schools should undertake a journey in contract carriages used by students in their schools once in a while and ensure the travel worthiness of the vehicle.
MVD has also warned of stringent action against contract carriages overcrowded with students. Permits of such carriages will be suspended along with licence of drivers concerned, Mr. Varghese said.
