ALAPPUZHA: Though motor vehicle department's special squads routinely monitor school vans, violations of Supreme Court guidelines are rampant here. Police on Friday had held five drivers for drunken driving during a two-hour drive checking 835 school vans. District police chief V.M. Muhammad Rafique said the crackdown would continue.
The district collector had initiated an orientation class for drivers on the SC guidelines two months back. This is the second crackdown this year. In February they had registered 13 cases. The district level squads of an education department official, an assistant motor vehicle inspector and a police circle inspector were formed six years back following the SC directive, but they are yet to get active. They have the authority cancel the license of violators and were directed to submit a monthly progress report to the district police chief.
In Alappuzha town alone there are 300 registered school vans. ‘The squads failed to conduct routine checks mainly due to the transfer of officials," an MVD official said.
As per the guidelines, a driver must have four years' experience, and the vehicles must take security measures right from the design to mandatory speed governors and seating capacity. But most schools openly violate them exposing students to accidents.
