Patna: Bihar’s Transport Department has tightened its focus on school transport safety, directing school managements to ensure that vehicles used to ferry children are parked within school premises. The measures aim to reduce the risk of road accidents and improve accountability for vehicles transporting students between their homes and schools.
The instructions cover not only school-owned buses but also private vehicles used to pick up and drop off students. School authorities will have to pay closer attention to parking arrangements, passenger capacity and records of vehicles and their drivers.
School Vehicles Must Be Parked Inside Campus
Under the new directions, schools must make arrangements to park vehicles carrying students within their premises. The objective is to prevent children from having to cross roads to reach vehicles parked outside school gates or along busy roads.
Vehicles waiting on roadsides can expose children to traffic-related risks, particularly during school opening and closing hours. School managements will therefore be responsible for ensuring that students can board and leave their vehicles safely.
The requirement applies to private vehicles transporting students as well as buses owned or operated by schools.
Overloading to Invite Action
The Transport Department has also emphasised compliance with vehicle seating capacity. School transport operators must ensure that the number of children travelling in a vehicle does not exceed its permitted capacity.
Vehicles found carrying more passengers than allowed may face action. The department has particularly highlighted the need to prevent overcrowding in smaller vehicles used to transport students.
The measure is intended to ensure that children have adequate space during their journeys and that school transport is operated in accordance with prescribed capacity limits.
Quarterly Meetings With Schools and Parents
Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) will hold meetings with school managements every three months, with parents also invited to participate.
These meetings will review the condition and operation of school vehicles, compliance with safety requirements, overloading concerns and problems faced by students during their daily commutes.
Parents will be able to raise complaints and suggest improvements. The meetings are also intended to strengthen coordination between school authorities, transport officials and families.
Schools Must Maintain Private Vehicle and Driver Records
Schools will be required to maintain details of every private vehicle used to transport their students. Records must include the driver’s name, mobile number and Aadhaar-linked details, according to the department’s instructions.
Maintaining these records will help school authorities identify vehicles and drivers when complaints arise or emergencies occur. The requirement also places greater responsibility on schools to keep track of privately operated transport services used by their students.
Violations May Lead to Action Against Vehicles
The department has warned against negligence in matters concerning children’s safety. Vehicles that exceed their permitted passenger capacity, drivers involved in overloading and operators who violate the prescribed rules may face action.
The quarterly reviews will also provide an opportunity to examine complaints about unsafe vehicle use and other breaches of transport requirements.
The initiative seeks to improve school transport safety across Bihar by making school managements and vehicle operators more accountable. Effective implementation of the directions will be important in reducing risks and ensuring safer journeys for children travelling between home and school.
