Govt’s reminder to private vans ferrying kids to schools

During the current year, a total of 28,615 school buses were inspected by the committee and issued fitness certificates. “Further, to regulate the other transport vehicles like autorickshaws, maxi cabs and motor cabs, which are ferrying schoolchildren, circular instructions have already been issued by the Transport Department,” the officials said. 

Accordingly, the auto or motor cab or maxi cab ferrying schoolchildren must be registered with the concerned Regional Transport Office by submitting an application, while the owner and driver of the vehicles should get an endorsement in the application for registration from the school principal and headmaster of the schools. 

“The vehicles should not carry schoolchildren up to the age of 12 more than 1.5 times of the normal seating capacity of the vehicle and it shall carry a board in front and rear containing words “On School Duty” both in English and Tamil while embarking and disembarking school children,” they said. 

The driver of the vehicle shall stand near the exit and help the children to embark and disembark safely and ensure that their parents or authorised persons are present to take care of the children, they added. The drivers should also help the children to cross the road wherever necessary. These instructions are being enforced by the officials of Transport Department and police and action is being taken against the errant permit holders and drivers, the officials noted.