PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
To enhance safety for students travelling by school buses, a special road safety training programme for school bus drivers and conductors was organised at the Institute of Driving Training and Research, Dehradun on Wednesday. The programme was conducted by the Transport department, Uttarakhand. A total of 46 drivers and conductors from Shivalik College of Engineering, St Patrick Academy and Social Baluni School took part in the training.
Officials said the primary objective of the programme was to strengthen safety standards for students commuting by school buses and to sensitise drivers and conductors about their responsibilities. Conducted free of charge, the training covered critical road safety topics including road signs, road markings, first aid, defensive driving, MSM-PSL technique, school bus operation standards, safe boarding and deboarding procedures, vehicle fitness, speed control and emergency response.
Joint transport commissioner, Uttarakhand, Rajiv Kumar Mehra, interacted with participants and said school bus drivers and conductors hold a crucial responsibility as guardians of children’s safety. He emphasised that road safety training is not a formality but a life-saving exercise, and that safe driving, patience, discipline and sensitivity can significantly reduce accidents.
Regional transport officer (Enforcement and Road Safety), Dehradun Division, Anita Chamola stated that drivers and conductors are the most important protectors of children’s safety, not merely vehicle operators. She added that since parents entrust their children to school transport with confidence, every person associated with school buses must strictly adhere to prescribed rules, bus standards, speed limits, vehicle fitness, seating capacity, the conductor’s role, and all safety instructions for children.
Deputy director, IDTR, Rohit Gupta said the programme was successfully completed with guidance from the Transport Department and urged all drivers and conductors to apply the training inputs in daily operations, as vigilance, discipline and responsibility are directly linked to children’s safety.
