Gurgaon admin asks school vehicles to follow safe driving

The Gurgaon District administration today warned the private schools of action if they fail to adhere to the safe driving guidelines of Haryana government and the Apex court for vehicles carrying students.
Convening a meeting with representatives of the private schools, T L Satyaprakash, Deputy Commissioner, directed them to fulfill necessary requirements mentioned in the 'Surakshit School Vahan Policy' by April 1 failing which they would face action.
Sushil Sarwan, Secretary of Regional Transport Authority (RTA), and his team would conduct checks of school buses to ensure that they comply with the policy of the state government, Satyaprakash said.
Detailing on the requirements, Sarwan said that white colour buses would not be allowed as school buses and should be put off the road by March 31 as it violates the policy.

He also advised the private schools to ensure that the buses fulfilled the necessary conditions before signing any agreement or contract with any transporter.
Issuing the guidelines, Sarwan said that school buses should be painted in 'yellow' with strip of dark blue paint all over the body of the buses and should be fitted with a speed check.

The words "School Bus" should be written on the front and rear of the bus, he said, adding, "On School Duty" should be mentioned if the bus is a hired one.
Buses should have a fitness and insurance certificates and should not emit smokes beyond permissible limits, Sarwan said.

The driver should wear proper uniforms, have minimum five years of driving experience, a medical fitness certificate and should not have been fined more than three times for traffic violation.
A school bus should have a conductor and a lady attendant who would alight before the students from the vehicle. The vehicle would be impounded if the students are dropped outside the boundary of the school.
Capping the number of students, Sarwan said that the buses should not carrry more than 1.5 times of the registered seating capacity, adding, the vehicle should not be have any tinted glasses and curtains fitted on it.