Schools cannot wash their hands off by putting the blame on the van driver alone. They cannot say that as they don’t own the vans , it is not their responsibility to check if the driver is drunk or not. Ensuring safe transportation of children is a huge part of their duty.
The managements must do a thorough background check before hiring drivers and try to employ only those who have at least five years of experience. When doing a background check, the managements could look into the attitude of a driver and see if he likes pan chewing, smoking or drinking and then take a call on whether to hire him or not.
Also, after being hired, drivers should be trained and sensitized by the schools. The managements must in association with child welfare associations draw up a programme to counsel and sensitize them.
Additionally, all school buses must be fitted with CCTVs and a GPS tracking system for the safety of children. The schools should also have a helpline that people can use to give feedback on the bus service or complain in case of rash driving. Every van should have a teacher or helper on board. Parents too must make sure to talk to the drivers to see if they are drunk or otherwise incapable of driving before allowing their children to board the buses.
Better pay for drivers could help as well as many feel they are underpaid today. Frequent drives by the traffic police against drunk driving could also prove a deterrent.
