Traffic police conduct surprise checks on private school buses in Sirsa

Following orders from the State Transport Commissioner to inspect private school buses across all districts, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and traffic police carried out surprise checks on 40 school buses in Sirsa on Wednesday. These inspections led to fines for three buses by the RTA and seven buses by the traffic police for incomplete documentation and various violations.

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The inspections are part of a broader initiative prompted by last year’s school bus accidents, which led the government to tighten safety regulations. Private school buses are now required to maintain proper documentation, comply with rules and ensure essential safety measures inside the buses. Transport Inspector Bijender Singh, who oversaw the checks with the help of traffic police, confirmed that several violations were detected.

“We found several violations, and action was taken accordingly,” Singh said. Road Safety Officer Saurav Rohilla highlighted the ongoing efforts to educate school bus drivers and authorities on traffic regulations. “This campaign will continue until February, with inspections scheduled in Ellenabad tomorrow,” he added.

During the checks, several issues were uncovered, including empty first-aid kits due to drivers not notifying school authorities for refills. Some drivers were operating buses without uniforms, while others neglected to wear seat belts. These violations resulted in fines as part of the strict enforcement campaign.

Additionally, ASI Rajendra Kumar of the District Traffic Police conducted an awareness session near the bus stand, educating drivers and youth about traffic rules. As part of the ongoing Road Safety Month in the district, ASI Kumar shared concerning statistics about road accidents, citing nearly 500,000 fatalities annually. He emphasised that strict adherence to traffic rules could significantly reduce these figures.

“The District Traffic Police is making every effort to raise awareness and encourage the public to follow traffic regulations,” said ASI Kumar. He called for active public participation in the campaign to curb road accidents, urging drivers and youth to pledge to follow traffic rules and inspire others to do the same.