City traffic police enforces safe route to school

To take action against violating schools

With the reopening of the schools round the corner, the city traffic police is geared up to enforce the “safe route to school’ guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court for school managements to follow.

The Bangalore traffic police has written to all the schools, warning the managements of strict action if they fail to adhere the guidelines.

Notification

The Karnataka State Transport Department had issued a notification on May 1 to the Traffic Department to enforce the safe route to school with a list of guidelines to be followed by all the schools having transport facilities.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.A. Saleem said safety of schoolchildren is of prime importance in any civilised society. Young children need greater care and comfort compared with adults during their daily commute.

Children are highly vulnerable and often unable to take precautionary measures by themselves and any small incident endangering them attracts widespread criticism and anger from society, he pointed out.

Therefore, it is imperative that school managements put in place safe journey mechanisms for schoolchildren, he said. Bangalore Traffic Police has already written to all principals of city schools to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court of India and the Transport Department. The police intends to strictly implement them and any violations will be viewed seriously, he said, adding that erring vehicle owners and school authorities will be prosecuted in the court.