Ministry advise drivers, parents on school bus safety
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued guidelines for school bus drivers in preparation for the new academic year that started Sunday. The ministry has also provided several tips for students and parents to ensure safety.
The ministry said school bus drivers should be extra cautious while transporting children to and from the school.The guidelines were shared on the ministry's Facebook page.
Similarly, school authorities will have to make sure that the bus drivers are cautious, accountable and competent enough to drive school buses. They must also ensure that the bus drivers undergo regular training programmes on safety.
The drivers have been advised to strictly follow a set of guidelines issued by the ministry. The MoI has asked the drivers to do a pre-trip inspection prior to every run to check for any mechanical defects that could jeopardise safety. They must make sure that the bus doors are closed firmly before moving.
The drivers must also prevent children from standing while the bus is in motion. They should make sure that the children getting off the bus are at a place of safety before moving on.
Also, the drivers must make sure that no child is left in the bus after all the students are dropped off at school or home. They must also ensure kids maintain discipline while in the bus.
Tips for parents
The MoI suggests that the parents and students should make it a habit to arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus.
They should stay out of the street and avoid excessive horseplay while waiting for the bus. They must also wait for the bus to completely stop before approaching it.
The parents have been asked to make sure that when riding the bus, the children must remain seated and keep their head and arms inside the bus at all times.
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Thanks Rose, we were/are terrified with MES bus service, we reached till school principal and we said if nothing is done, we may reach Supreme Education Council. The MES Principal replied "If you reach SEC, your child will be in problem", we understood what he meant. After all my kid will be in drivers and MES hand... (a troublesome kid who complained to SEC) i cant unhappy them.
Principal was polite thou, he sent us to transport manager, but MES transport manager too was ruder than driver. We lost hope...
No school bus should be allowed to be operated without a bus monitor. Silence....you should bring this point to the notice of Supreme Education Council. Well, I am very happy about the way DPS- MIS operates its fleet. Each bus has a bus monitor and both the drivers and monitors are polite and caring. Thanks to Mr. Pathra - Transport Manager of this school for his excellent leadership.
Thats a good idea BE, i must admit, its new concept for me. Was wondering, would that be practical with rude drivers?
One way we addressed this was to have a "Chaperone" on the bus each trip to help the driver. This was usually a volunteer mother who took turns during the month.
Sorry to say, apart from all good work from authorities, they dont come on ground level and see the practicality of the rules they make, hence all rules but no implementation.
Lets take my practical MES school bus example, From many, lets take 3 example...
1-The drivers must also prevent children from standing while the bus is in motion.
2-They must make sure that the bus doors are closed firmly before moving.
3-They should make sure that the children getting off the bus are at a place of safety before moving on.
1-I drop my kid, everyday, In my case, as soon as last student gets in the bus, the driver accelerates the bus. kids walk towards their seat while bus is in motion everyday, just because, driver cannot wait 20 secs, till kids sit down.)
Believe me, i have seen, kids geting in moving bus (last kid only), as driver assumes the last kid has holded the handle means he got in the bus... and he accelerates.
2-The door is open mostly when bus is coming to zero speed or leaving stop.
3-Kids are dropped at heavily construction area, driver says its your problem not mine.
Point 2 is not very unsafe, but 1 and 3 are mostly unsafe.
We wish all the rules stated above were forced and we were more safe.