Five Hyderabad school bus drivers caught drunk driving during checks

Hyderabad Traffic Police caught five school bus drivers under the influence of alcohol during surprise checks across 34 locations. Officials urge schools to follow Supreme Court guidelines for student transport, emphasizing safety equipment, experienced drivers, and strict adherence to capacity norms

Hyderabad: Five school bus drivers were caught by the Hyderabad Traffic Police during a drunk driving check in the city on Wednesday.

As part of its road safety campaign, the traffic police conducted checks on school buses at 34 different locations across the city. A total of 324 school bus drivers were tested for alcohol consumption, and five were found to be under the influence of liquor.

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Rahul Hegde, DCP (Traffic-I), said that school managements must adhere to the Supreme Court’s guidelines regarding the transportation of schoolchildren. He emphasised that vehicles must have valid permits issued by the competent authority to operate as passenger transport vehicles and should display “On School Duty” clearly on both the front and rear.

“No vehicle should carry children beyond its permitted seating capacity, and no child should be allowed to sit on another’s lap,” he said. Vehicles must also be equipped with a first-aid box, drinking water, and display the name of the school along with a contact number.

Vehicles transporting schoolchildren must be driven by a driver with at least five years of experience operating such vehicles and must have no record of prior traffic violations. An attendant must be present in every vehicle to ensure the safe boarding and alighting of children.