Where are the speed governors?

TNN / Apr 3, 2008, 01:20 IST

Share

AA

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

SC had fixed the speed limit of 40 kmph for the buses and to ensure this, speed governors were to be installed in the buses. The bus which toppled over on Wednesday was reportedly going at 70 kmph.

AHMEDABAD: Almost a decade ago, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the Wazirabad school bus tragedy in which 30 children drowned in the Yamuna on November 18, 1997 and passed an order to secure school buses. One of the directives was to install speed governors in the buses. Had these norms been implemented in Gujarat, the DPS boy might not have been killed.
The apex court had fixed the speed limit of 40 kmph for the buses and to ensure this, speed governors were to be installed in the buses.The bus which toppled over on Wednesday was reportedly going at 70 kmph.
The directive also specified that the bus driver should have at least five years' experience and should not have been challaned more than two times in the past year. A person charged with a serious criminal offence is not permitted to drive children to school. It also states that the driver should be disqualified as such even for two traffic offences.
The drivers of school buses as per the guidelines must not overtake any four-wheeler. They should strictly follow traffic rules. The doors should be closed and the vehicle fitted with convex crossview mirrors, hand rails along the steps and steel bars on the windows. Schools have to ensure that drivers on duty are in proper uniform with badges.

The state government, though, is still way off the mark in implementing the promises made to the Gujarat High Court on the issue of safety of school transport. The HC had taken suo motu cognisance in 2005 and had asked the government clarify its policy on school transport. The regulations remain on paper.
Also read: Gujarat boy killed as bus overturns
School bus driver or speed fiends?

End of Article

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA