Mangaluru : Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said school vehicles, including the private vehicles transporting schoolchildren, should have a distinct highway yellow colour with a horizontal strip in green colour in the middle all around the vehicle.

Chairing a meeting on the safety of school vehicles here on Wednesday, he directed the region transport and police officials to initiate stringent action against those vehicles that are crammed with schoolchildren.

The district administration wants to ensure that all safety measures prescribed by the government and courts are strictly adhered to by June 30, he added.

The DC said, “As per the rules, the autorickshaw can accommodate six children (below 12 years) in one trip. The Maruthi Omni can accommodate only eight children. If the children are above 12 years, then the number of children should be as per the carrying capacity of the vehicles.”

“The RTO and the Education Department should act swiftly in this regard. As the safety measures are implemented in the interest of the safety of the children, the parents should cooperate with the authorities,” he added.

Close on the heels of the accident at Trasi in Kundapur which claimed the lives of eight schoolchildren, the district and the city police have begun cracking the whip against vehicles carrying schoolchildren by violating the guidelines.

The district police created awareness among the drivers and urged them to reduce the number of students in the vehicle at Belthangady, Bantwal, Puttur and at Sullia. Puttur ASP C B Ryshyanth, Additional SP Dr Vedamurthy also led the team in checking the school vehicles at a few locations.

The city police started the drive from morning at Lady Hill, Navabharath Circle, Bendoorwell Circle, and near Rosario. At a few places, the police imposed fine on the drivers for overloading the vehicles.

In spite of the government issuing guidelines for the safety of children, the guidelines for vehicles transporting students to educational institutions, wherein a majority of the students are forced to travel in vehicles that are packed.

Autorickshaws crammed with young students and vans with children’s backpacks coming out of the windows are a regular sight in city as well as in rural areas. During the drive the police noticed 14-to 18 children travelling in a van. “We have warned the drivers. The drivers in turn has promised to reduce the number of intake of students in a trip,” said the police. The motorists, who rode with pillions without helmets, were also penalised by police.

ACP (Traffic) Uday Nayak said that the school vehicles should mandatorily registered with the RTO. Even the parents should give priority to the safety of their children, he added.