Transport department penalises 79 vehicle users under school transport safety drive

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun

The Transport department issued challans to 79 vehicles carrying students, including 17 school and two-wheeler vehicles, during a checking campaign in Dehradun on Friday. The enforcement teams conducted inspections on EC Road, Subhash Road, Saharanpur Road, Chakrata Road and Rajpur Road, the regional transport officer (Enforcement) Anita Chamola said. She informed that four teams were deployed to monitor school transport on main roads of Dehradun city. The teams inspected vehicles outside several schools and found that many parents were transporting children on their personal two-wheelers and some parents even ensured safety by making children wear helmets. She stated that the enforcement teams acknowledged such efforts and used the opportunity to spread awareness among the public. The officials also found overloading in several vehicles. Chamola said that the department conducts regular checks to ensure student safety and will continue such campaigns. She also urged parents not to send children in overloaded school vehicles and to verify the driver’s license and vehicle documents before allowing children to travel. Parents and local residents can register complaints about violations to the nearest transport office, she added.