More safety measures for school buses

Hyderabad, Oct 5 (INN): The state government is mulling over a proposal to amend the Motor Vehicle Act 185, which if implemented, will make it mandatory for all educational institutions to carry full particulars in respect of school or college as the case may be on the left hand side of the windshield of the buses. The rationale behind this proposal is that access to such information will help rescue teams to inform the managements of the school or college and provide offer quick relief to the victims of accidents. This would also facilitate all concerned to swing into action immediately.
The state government will, according to informed sources, invite suggestions from all concerned within a month.

Once the draft proposal is ready with commissions and omissions the existing MV Act shall be amended by the government.
The government's moves are seen to have come in light of the increasing accident rates in the mega city. The proposal is also seen as an effort ease the concern from all quarters, particularly parents, to see that the accidents are minimised and part of the wider aim of putting an end to reckless driving as far as possible.

Once the draft amendment is affected, it shall be mandatory for all these buses (both Schools and Colleges) transporting students to display the school or college name, telephone number and mobile number on the left hand side and rear side of the vehicle. Besides this, another important point is that the driver's age should be restricted to 60 years or below. The draft proposal further states that the managements of the educational institutes will have to issue a health card to all the drivers. The proposal also makes it mandatory for periodical check-ups to examine blood pressure and gauge whether the driver is diabetic. Every three months, the drivers' vision test shall be conducted, the proposal states.

Schools and colleges are required to appoint drivers with a minimum of five years' experience with genuine licence to drive a specific vehicle. The driver details will have to be shared with the parents. Tne parent or a teacher by rotation, including an attendant in uniform, will have to travel in the bus, according to the draft proposal. The buses should have an emergency exit as well as first aid material plus a list of students, along with their particulars traveling in the bus. The buses are expected to carry a fire extinguisher, the route map, interalia. Principal Secretary, (Transport), will receive the suggestions at the Secretariat.