Transporting children from their homes to schools and back is an important task, and every driver has the utmost responsibility while on duty, said Collector T.G. Vinay here on Thursday.
Interacting with crew members during an annual inspection of school buses and vans, he urged drivers and conductors to keep their mobile phones on silent mode or switch them off while on duty. Attention on roads and focus on driving alone would ensure children’s safety.
Transport officials said buses/vans from Dindigul, Vedasandur, Natham and Batlagundu, totalling 232 schools and 470 vehicles, were inspected in Dindigul, while vehicles numbering 200 from 32 schools in Palani and Oddanchatram were inspected at Palani RTO.
Only those vehicles that were found ‘fit to run’ and had complied with all safety aspects were issued NOC, while those with deficiencies were instructed to rectify them soon.
With summer holidays coming to an end in about a fortnight, the government directed officials concerned to examine the vehicles and certify them as mandated by the High Court.
According to a transport official, most of the vans had complied with all conditions, while about 25% of vehicles did not have first aid box. In some buses, the doors were not in proper condition.
The licences of drivers and conductors were also checked and those who did not turn up in uniforms were warned.
