GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE TRANSPORT/ VANS/ CABS

GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS USING PRIVATE TRANSPORT/ VANS/ CABS

It is the school’s consistent endeavour to ensure the safety and security of all students. Parents are therefore sincerely advised to use only safe, lawful and appropriate means of transportation for their children.

In case parents independently hire and engage private transport/ vans/ cabs, parents are advised to exercise due diligence and ensure that the private transport provider and vehicle engaged for their ward meet all applicable safety and legal guidelines of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and the Directorate of Education issued from time to time regarding safe and secure transportation of children.


RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS: They are advised to ensure that: -

1. The credentials, documentation, condition and safety standards of the vehicle and the driver before entrusting their child to such transport.
2. The private van/ cab/ taxi selected/ engaged for their child is safe, lawful and appropriately documented.
3. The van/ cab/ taxi is registered with the Transport Department under the School Cab Scheme of the Motor Registration Act.
4. The vehicle registered under the scheme must be equipped with the safety features including Speed Governors, GPRS Devices, Fire Extinguishers and First Aid Box.
5. There should be a yellow strip mentioning “SCHOOL CAB” on the vehicle.
6. The vehicle must possess all necessary documents required under applicable law and valid: -

• Registration Details
• Fitness Certificate,
• Permit,
• Insurance,
• Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate

7. The van/cab must be roadworthy and properly maintained, with functional doors, secure child locks, and all essential mechanical and safety features in proper working condition.
8. The van/ cab/ taxi is not overcrowded/ overloaded under any circumstances and must not be ferrying more passengers than the sanctioned/ permitted capacity.
9. There should be a lady attendant/ parent in the private van/ cab.
10. The driver holds a valid and commercial/transport driving licence along with PSV Badge and fulfils all applicable legal requirements for transporting children.
11. The driver should be in a proper uniform.
12. The driver must have valid Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
13. The driver should strictly adhere to the school timings and follows safe practices for pickup, boarding, transportation and drop-off of students.
14. The driver is adequately briefed by the parent regarding the school's arrival & dispersal protocols, designated gates, traffic arrangements and instructions of school staff & security personnel.
15. Parents periodically verify the continued validity of the vehicle's documents, driver's licence and other applicable compliances.
16. Parents are advised to promptly address any unsafe, negligent or inappropriate conduct by the private transport provider and, where necessary, make alternative transport arrangements.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF PRIVATE TRANSPORT OPERATORS/ DRIVERS

1. The private van/ cab operator/ driver is responsible for the safe pickup, boarding, transportation and drop-off of the children entrusted to the vehicle.
2. The private van/ cab operators/ drivers shall ensure strict compliance with legally permitted seating capacity of the vehicle. Overcrowding, overloading or carrying children beyond the permitted seating capacity shall not be allowed under any circumstances.
3. The driver shall ensure that all children remain properly and safely seated throughout the journey. The private van driver and attendant deputed by the parents shall ensure proper supervision of the children during transit.
4. The private van/cab driver shall ensure that no bullying, fighting, misbehaviour or unsafe behaviour occurs among the children while travelling in the vehicle.
5. Private van/ cab drivers must arrive at the designated School gate in an orderly manner, follow the designated queue/system, and wait at the designated location as instructed by school staff or security personnel.
6. Drivers must collect their respective students promptly and leave the school gate without unnecessarily waiting, stopping or obstructing the movement of other vehicles, students or school staff.
7. Private van drivers must strictly comply with all applicable traffic rules, road-safety requirements and directions issued by authorised school personnel while waiting at or departing from the school gate.
8. Drivers must ensure that their conduct at or around the school gate does not cause congestion, disorder, obstruction, unsafe conditions or inconvenience to other vehicles, students, parents or members of the school community.
9. Children must never be left unattended outside the school gate by the private van driver, either during morning arrival or afternoon dispersal.
10. The private van driver must not make repeated trips while leaving children waiting unsupervised after collecting them from the school gate. Such practice is strictly prohibited in the interest of child safety.
11. Drivers must not engage in arguments, altercations or inappropriate conduct with school staff, security personnel, parents, students or other transport operators.
12. Once a child is duly handed over to the authorised private van/cab driver at the designated gate, the responsibility for escorting the child to the vehicle, ensuring safe boarding and transporting the child thereafter rests with the private transport operator/driver and the parent who has independently engaged the van/ cab.

MONSOON SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS

Parents also have an important role in protecting their children and ensuring their safety during the monsoon. Parents are advised to ensure that:

1. Children carry appropriate raincoats, umbrellas, rainproof silicone shoe covers, etc. during the monsoon season.
2. Children are taught and reminded to use rain gear safely, particularly while walking near vehicles and during school dispersal.
3. The school bag, books, electronic devices and other belongings are properly checked, packed and secured to protect them from rain and moisture.
4. Parents ensure that children have suitable footwear for wet weather to minimise the risk of slipping or falling.

RESTRICTION ON ENTRY OF PRIVATE VANS/ CABS DURING RAINFALL (MONSOON)

For the safety and security of the entire student community and staff, third-party private vans/ cabs are not permitted to enter the school campus, including during rainfall or adverse weather conditions. Since these vehicles and their drivers are privately engaged by parents and remain outside the school’s operational and statutory control, permitting them inside the campus would certainly jeopardise the safety and security of students and expose them to greater risks.

This restriction is particularly important during rainfall to prevent the risk of accidents, congestion, uncontrolled vehicular movement, obstruction of emergency access and other safety concerns. The school cannot compromise the safety of the larger student community merely to facilitate the convenience of privately hired vans/cabs. The safety, security and well-being of students and staff shall always remain the school’s foremost and non-negotiable priority.

IMPORTANT ADVISORY

Third-party private transport/ van / cab is independently engaged by parents is a mutual arrangement between the parent and the private van/cab operator. The school has no operational or statutory control over these vans/cabs and their drivers; therefore, parents are required to be more vigilant while engaging such services for the transportation of their children.

The school reserves the right to regulate the movement of privately engaged vehicles around the school gates in the interest of student safety, orderly dispersal and smooth movement of traffic.

All private transport operators/drivers are expected to cooperate fully with the school's security and dispersal arrangements and comply with directions issued from time to time in the interest of student safety.