Guidelines for a safe journey

KOCHI: The Motor vehicles Department, the School Management Authorities and Parents Teachers Association of various schools have come up with certain guidelines to ensure a safe journey for school and college students.  Separate sets of guidelines have been finalised for parents and school authorities. For ParentsMake sure that you know the mode of transport opted by your children, whether it's the bus, auto rickshaw, cycle, two-wheeler or by foot.If you are sending your children in private vehicles other than school buses, make sure that you have noted down the registration number of the vehicle and name and address of the driver.Do not send your children to school on vehicles without proper permit.If you are sending your children to school in an auto rickshaw, make sure that he or she is comfortably settled on the back seat. Do not seat children  on the driver's seat.Do not allow children aged below 12 years to go to school on a bicycle.For school management.A proper register should be maintained in the school in which the details of each student’s journey is recorded.The details to be entered in the register include the name of the student, class, mode of transport, driver's name, register number of the vehicle, license number of the driver and total number of passengers in the vehicle (exception for school buses).A safety officer should be appointed in the school. (Can be either a teaching or non-teaching staff)The safety officer should collect the details of the driver and the vehicles that are carrying students to schools. The details should be given at the zonal RTO office.The management should ensure that the school buses are working according to norms suggested by the Kerala State Transport Authority.