Last Tuesday, a school bus caught fire in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. 25 students died in this accident. According to news agency AFP, there were 44 people on board the bus, of which 16 people have been admitted to hospital. The bus was returning from a school trip.
Such accidents are very unfortunate, but as parents we also have certain responsibilities, which we ignore while choosing a school vehicle for our children.
So, today In work news We will talk about how to choose a school bus for children? You will also learn that-
- What are the guidelines regarding school buses in India?
- In which types of vehicles children should not be sent to school?
Expert: Saurabh Kumar, Regional Transport Officer, Banda (Uttar Pradesh)
Q- What type of school vehicle should parents choose for their children? Answer- In today's age it is common for children to go to school by school bus, van etc. Parents who cannot take their children to school choose other modes of transport themselves. In such a situation, parents should keep the following points in mind while choosing any school vehicle. such as-
Check the security system Before sending the child to school, the safety features of the school vehicle should be checked. Like what is the condition of the vehicle, what is the qualification of the driver and what are the emergency arrangements in the vehicle.
See facilities for children The vehicle should have air conditioner (AC), CCTV camera, emergency gate and suitable seating for children.
Be sure to check the driver's history Before sending children to school, check the driver's name, address, license number and his police verification report. Apart from this, the driver must have the permission of the school administration.
Q- In which type of vehicles children should not be sent to school? Answer- Sending children to school in vehicles like vans, tempos, e-rickshaws and autos should be avoided, as such vehicles do not have seat belts and other safety features. In most cases, it has been observed that these vehicles have more children than their capacity, which increases the risk of accidents. So this vehicle is not at all safe from safety point of view.
Note: Instead of such vehicles, it is safer to send children to school in a safe and comfortable school bus or private vehicle.
Q- What are the rules regarding school buses in India? Answer- Today almost all the private schools in the cities provide bus facility to pick up the children from home and send them back home.
School buses are considered the safest for children. However, this alone is not enough for the child's safety. School buses are also required to meet certain safety standards. These include fire extinguishers inside the bus, iron bars on the windows, first aid boxes and enough space to store school bags under the seats. Parents should periodically check that these safety standards are being followed on the school bus.
From the graphic below, understand how the guidelines are set for school buses.
Question: To whom can parents complain if school bus drivers do not follow traffic rules?
Answer: Banda Regional Transport Officer Saurabh Kumar says if a school bus driver violates traffic rules, you can first approach the school administration and file a complaint. If the school administration does not take any notice of your complaint then you can complain at the following places.
- If the school vehicles are violating traffic rules, you can contact the traffic police.
- In case of driving a school vehicle over the prescribed speed limit, you can also file a complaint at the nearest police station.
- If the school administration does not address your complaint, you can approach the District Education Officer (DFO).
- You can approach the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) if the protection and rights of children are being violated.
Before approaching these authorities, you must collect necessary documents and evidence in support of your complaint.
Question- What action can be taken if the guidelines are not followed in school vehicles?
Answer- If a school vehicle does not follow the safety guidelines, there are many types of legal action that can be taken against it.
- School vehicles may be fined.
- School vehicles may be impounded.
- School vehicle license may be revoked.
- A driver's license may be revoked.
- A police case may be registered against the school administrator and the vehicle owner.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
