Vehicles Carrying School Children Should be Painted Yellow – DC A B Ibrahim
Mangaluru: Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim held a press meet at his office here, on June 22.
Addressing the media persons, DC Ibrahim said that all school vehicles should be painted yellow. An ‘On School Duty’ sign should be mandatory for the school drop-off vehicles. First aid kits, fire extinguishers, respective school names, proper door locking mechanisms and emergency exits are compulsory for all vehicles used to transport school children.
SP Bhushan said that all illegal vehicles which drop students should be penalized. “The students may face problems for a week, but this is necessary and they will get adjusted to it. Permits and driving licences should be cancelled when such vehicles are found.” He also said that the parents should be present to receive their children when they come back from the school as last week one child died due to the negligence of the driver. After dropping the child, he failed to notice her standing behind the bus and hit her when he was reversing the vehicle.
SP also said that if auto and Omni owners do not paint their vehicles yellow, they will not be allowed to drop students to school. Other vehicles should give way to yellow coloured school vehicles and should not overtake them.
Regional Transport Officer G S Hegde said that in an auto, a maximum of 6 children below 12 years will be allowed and in an Omni, a maximum of 8 students below 12 years will be allowed. “It is mandatory for every autorickshaw or Omni driver to paint their vehicles in yellow if they are dropping students to school. If the vehicle is taken on rent by the school, a sign stating “On School Duty” should be present on the vehicle. Parents or teachers are allowed to travel by school vehicles to check the safety of their children,” he said.
There was also a suggestion to ban Maruti Omni and autorickshaws from dropping children to school as they do not have any safety features.
The DC also said that by June 30, notices should be issued to all schools and vehicle owners to follow the traffic rules strictly. If the students are coming by auto or other vehicles, the number of the vehicle and name of the driver should be registered in the school records. If the auto or vehicle is not painted yellow, parents are requested not to send their children in such vehicles. Every vehicle, carrying school children must strictly follow the Guidelines.
DCP of Law & Order Shantharaju and DDPI Walter D’Mello were present at the meet.