Delhi govt issues new guidelines for school buses

The transport department has come up with a slew of new guidelines to ensure school buses are driven safely by experienced drivers.

The transport department has come up with a slew of new guidelines to ensure school buses are driven safely by experienced drivers.

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Delhi transport minister Ramakant Goswami said a committee of experts has suggested several measures to ensure a safe ride for children to their schools and back.

Goswami said bus drivers must have at least five years of experience. “Drivers who have not been caught more than twice in a year for minor traffic violations will be allowed. They should wear a uniform with their name plate,” Goswami said.

“Any driver charged with speeding, drunk driving, driving dangerously or found booked under IPC Section 304 will not be allowed to drive a school bus.”

Section 304 pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Also, a prominent board saying the bus is being used to ferry school children will be mandatory.

The colour of the board should be golden-yellow and it should have two school children in iconographic display, a transport department official said. “The buses should be equipped with convex cross-view mirrors so that the driver can see both the doors. It must have handrails along the steps of the front door,” Goswami said.