Are school bus drivers taking parents for a ride?

Half the institute-run vehicles' drivers lack valid papers, blame RTO for non-issuance of badges

Half the institute-run vehicles' drivers lack valid papers, blame RTO for non-issuance of badges

If your child is commuting to and from school on an institute-run bus, you need to ensure that the man sitting behind the wheel has all the valid documents and is a bona fide driver.


Chandu Saidappa, driver for Podar School buses is one of the few who has the badge

Around 2,475 school bus drivers have been prosecuted for various offences, including lack of a valid driving licence, under the Motor Vehicle Act, in the past one and a half years, say the records of the Regional Transport Office.

Apart from a valid licence, the bus drivers need to have a badge issued by the RTO, certifying their eligibility.

What is surprising is that 50 per cent of the school bus drivers in the state are not holding badges because they are either settlers only Maharashtra residents are issued badges or are unaware of traffic rules.

According to the traffic police records, more than 3,39,448 heavy vehicle drivers, including 2,100 bus drivers, were prosecuted for violating traffic norms last year.

And this year, 375 school bus drivers were caught for violation of the Motor Vehicle Act between January 1u00a0 and February 17. Ever-increasing number of non-registered school bus drivers is driving the RTO officials up the wall.

Bus owners grumble

But the school bus drivers alleged that they were being singled out by RTO officials and traffic police as they were the "soft-targets".

Anil Garg, chairman School Bus Owners' Association (SBA), said that 3,600 school buses were plying on the streets of Mumbai, but half of them are being run by drivers who don't possess badges.

"The RTO and traffic police fine the drivers for not having a badge, but when they apply for badges the officials don't issue the insignia to them," he added.
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Garg went on, "Traffic and RTO cops have to reach a certain target by March, so they have suddenly stepped up their drive to show more cases in their records.

"The RTO officials would detain a school bus driver for not wearing a uniform or lack of badges. Where will they get the badges from if the RTO does not issue the insignia? The RTO has not issued a single badge for the past three years. They just need an excuse to fleece us.

Why do they not detain vans that illegally ferry students?"

Niyaz Ahmed, owner of a school bus, said, "We are getting complaints daily from the bus drivers that the traffic cops are intercepting them and issuing memos ranging from Rs 1,000 to 10,000 for violations like absence of a reflector in the vehicle."

Rubbishing the claims that the RTO was not issuing badges, Dilip Jadhav, State Transport Commissioner, said, "Batches are being issued regularly. But the process has become a little strict now.

I have told the police to properly check the residential proof of these drivers to ensure that no one with a criminal record is issued a badge.
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The person seeking a badge needs to be a resident of Maharashtra for at least 15 years, while most of the applications we are receiving are from the settlers. Once shortlisted, the candidate has to take a driving test and go through a police inquiry."

Sanjeev Lele, Transport Manager of Podar schools, said, "We allow only those drivers to drive our buses who have five years experience in driving and a badge from the RTO.

We also train the drivers on the school play ground and instruct them to avoid rash driving."

Officials of the traffic police department refused to comment on the allegations made by the School Bus Owners' Association.

Voices

"I don't know how important the badge is for a bus driver, but I will surely find out. We are given all the details about the route of the school bus and even messages on phone if the bus is stuck anywhere."
Swati Jajodia, parent of a student from JB Petit School

"We are banking on the school management as they are responsible for selecting a bona fide driver sans criminal records. Anyway, rules are made every other day, but who follows them?"
Dinesh Tarfe, parent of a St Xavier's school student

With Badge
Chandu Saidappa (32), said, "I have been driving school buses for the past 10 years. I got my badge after submitting my SSC certificate and residential proof in 2001. It was not so difficult to get a badge that time, but now it is a different story altogether. Now, the RTO officials don't issue badges to any bus driver, but they don't hesitate charging Rs 700 if a driver is caught without a badge."

Without Badge
CS Nadar said, "I have been driving school buses without a badge for the past seven years. It's not that I am a habitual offender, I have tried at least seven times to procure the badge, but to no avail. The RTO has not issued badges for years sayingu00a0 they are not available. They have caught me 10-12 times sans a badge and every time I had to cough up a hefty fine, ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000."

Legal point
Asked who would be liable in case of an accident or an abduction, Gabriel Pillai, barrister and solicitor, said, "Legally, the owner of the school bus would be liable. But the school management needs to ensure that they engage only those buses that comply with the Motor Vehicle Act regulations."

3,600
Approximate number of school buses on the streets of Mumbai

375
Drivers have been caught for violating traffic norms

2,100
School buses caught for violation of Motor Vehicle Act last year.

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