Thiruvananthapuram, Wednesday, October 12, 2011: The majority of school vehicles in the city operate without adhering to rules and guidelines drawn up by the police to prevent accidents, an ACV News investigation revealed on Wednesday.

According to this exclusive news report the violation of safety norms are seen rampant in the case of autorickshaws and utility vehicles including jeeps, vans and modified mini-bus.

At the commencement of every academic year the police issue stringent guidelines on qualification of drivers, condition of vehicles and safety norms to be adopted. Initially some educational institutions obey these guidelines but most of them are dropped midway.

Even though repeated road accidents in Karikkakom and Channankara had claimed the lives of 10 school children the authorities are still not taking stringent steps to prevent such tragic incidents.

Moreover, both accidents took place on single lane roads beside the canal. Rash driving and carelessness of the young drivers have been attributed as reasons for Karikkakom and Channankara accidents.

In order to prevent such tragedies the condition of vehicles belonging to educational institutions in the district must be assessed frequently for its safety standards

(ACV News investigation)