5 school bus drivers found drunk during checks in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: City traffic officials conducted drunk driving checks on school bus drivers at 34 locations and found that five drivers were under the influence of alcohol. The drive was conducted at Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Panjagutta, Begumpet, SR Nagar, Marredpally, Bowenpally, Trimulgherry, Mahankali and Gopalpuram areas.

During this special drive, a total of 324 school buses were checked, and among them, five school bus drivers were found driving under the influence of alcohol. The five drivers were detained temporarily and booked for drunk driving.

DCP Rahul Hegde pointed out that school managements should be aware of the guidelines of the Supreme Court of India issued in Writ Petition (Civil) 1309 of 1985, regarding steps to be taken for the transport of school children from residence to school and vice versa.

According to the guidelines:

1. There must be an appropriate permit for the vehicle, issued by a competent authority as a ‘passenger transport vehicle.’

2. The text ‘On School Duty’ must be permanently written on the back and front of every vehicle carrying school children.

3. No school vehicle shall carry children in excess of its permitted seating capacity. No child should be allowed to sit on the lap of others, if any.

4. There must be a first-aid box and drinking water in the vehicle.

5. The seat belts, wherever applicable, must be fastened properly.

6. School name and telephone number must be displayed.

7. Every vehicle carrying school children must be driven by a driver who has a minimum of five years of experience in driving such categories of vehicles and must not have any record of previous traffic offences.

8. Whenever a contract carriage is sued for carrying school children, the owner of the vehicle must give intimation to the local police station/DCP/SP Traffic of the district, indicating the name of the driver and particulars of the vehicle, etc.

9. There must be an attendant in every such vehicle to ensure the safe travel of the children and render adequate assistance for the safe embarking and disembarking of the children. School management should ensure that all the aforementioned guidelines and traffic rules are followed by the drivers of the school buses.