G’bal| April, 27 :The Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO) in Ganderbal has directed all schools to immediately discontinue the use of private vehicles for transporting students, citing violations of prescribed safety norms.
In an official notice issued on April 27, the ARTO said several private vehicles, including vans, were being used to ferry schoolchildren in contravention of provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and AIS-063 standards applicable to school buses.
The order mandates that only vehicles compliant with AIS-063 safety standards be engaged for student transport. It also requires strict adherence to guidelines issued by the Supreme Court of India on school transportation, including the installation of speed governors and other safety equipment.
The authorities noted that many private vehicles lack essential safety features and are often involved in overloading and over-speeding, posing risks to children.
The directive further stipulates that drivers of school vehicles must have a minimum of five years’ driving experience and a clean record, with no repeated traffic violations.
The ARTO said the move was necessitated by a rise in road accidents and aimed at ensuring the safety of school-going children. Schools have been asked to comply with the directions with immediate effect.
