The new guidelines came two days after a five-year-old girl of Air Force School, Subroto Park, was killed when a speeding van ferrying students turned turtle after colliding with a car. The van, a private vehicle, was plying without the required permit.
As per the guidelines, only drivers having five years of experience will be allowed to drive school buses and vans. Any driver who is challaned more than twice in a calendar year on account of certain violations like overtaking, jumping of red light and violating parking regulations will not be allowed to drive school buses.
Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami said drivers will have to wear a uniform of grey trousers and jacket and they must display their identity card visibly while driving the vehicles. The name of the owner of the vehicle must also figure in the card.
He said anybody challaned or charged with offenses like overspeeding, drunken driving or driving dangerously or booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder will not be allowed to drive a school vehicle.
Further, school buses must display prominently that they are being used for ferrying school children.
Goswami said all the school buses must have folding doors and each vehicle should have a conductor with a valid license.
The bus must carry a copy of the valid agreement with the educational institute and complete list of the school children showing their names, classes, residential addresses and points of embarkation and dis-embarkation. MORE