Tuesday, November 23, 2010

[rti4empowerment] Re: School Bus Discipline - More Like Gross Indiscipline

 

Hello all,


On the face of it, school buses by definition would mean the buses would be safe for the children, and the drivers would drive safely and following all rules, irrespective of the as yet draft, long over due,  school bus policy of the state notwithstanding.

But as is the rules of the road nowadays, the anonymous stereotypical school bus driver is a maniac, a total no brainer.

Apart from the common violations, double parking, corner parking, BEST bus stop parking, no seat belts, talking on mobile phone while driving, driving rashly, breaking red lights, there is another totally idiot practise they follow, without any care in the World.

Stopping any where, to pick up and drop children, without supervision, the children cross alone, and leave them to fend for themselves.

The bus drivers are so idiot that they stop to drop even within twenty metres of the next stop, ie., next building entrance, etc. even in narrow streets, while vehicles pile on behind.

They even stop while making turns because the child's maid or parent is waiting in the middle of the road.

Then they have words written, how is my driving, for God's sake.

Is there no sense of self discipline at least in school bus drivers.

What is the use of all kinds of blood group list, route map, female attendant for girl students, GPS, etc., when the drivers are absolutely careless, callous, oblivious o their responsibilities.

Then the principals also don''t care because the school buses are out sourced, parents couldn't care less unless God forbid, the worst case scenario, and the authorities dilly dallying the implementation of the policy, and lack of enforcement of traffic rules.

The only rules these drivers, like BEST, like cement concrete mixer, like dumper, like MCGM garbage compactor driver, is, they are the rules, they rule the roads.

Jagdeep DESAI
Architect

Secretary
Founder Trustee
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs

>>>

On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 12:04 AM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello all,

This report yet again confirms the view that there is going to be endless delays for any kind of school bus regulations


Even then, the main and crucial point of adhering to, and following traffic rules, is not mentioned even once in the policy.

Apart from the fact that it is understood, the drivers and operators don't particularly bother about them, so they have to be directed, from the first line itself.

Whatever is reported of the model school bus guidelines, is more or less software based, instead of focussing on the drivers driving safely and to the traffic rules.

See any self respecting driver of a school bus or contract bus masquerading as a school bus, and any self respecting law abiding Citizen will hang his head in shame that in today's day and age, these fellows are driving like somewhere in lawless lands of India.

What message are we giving the children, that it is alright to break any and all rules so long as the bus gets us to the school or home on time, no matter if the kid is late, and the driver blows his illegal musical, pressure, multi tone, air horn to call him, or that he stops anywhere to pick up, no matter if it blocks traffic, or he parks anywhere, no matter its double, or corner, or wrong way, etc.

Live and Learn.

See the emails below, it doesn't appear the authorities, nor schools, nor parents, are interested.

Thanqx.

Jagdeep DESAI

Secretary
Founder Trustee
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in  Mumbai Suburbs




>>>

Govt sits on school bus policy

Delays Resolution That Would Make Clutch Of Safety Measures Mandatory

Anahita Mukherji TNN 


Mumbai: When it comes to implementing a school bus policy for Maharashtra, the state government's attitude is akin to a footballer who finds the goalpost clear but does not kick the ball in. Almost a decade after a model school bus system was designed, the government is yet to implement its own policy. It's only after a particularly horrific accident involving school children occurs that the government springs into action. 
    Two years ago, after a group of kindergarteners died when a Maruti Omni exploded while ferrying them home from school, the government appointed a committee to draft a school bus policy for the state. 
    The committee gave its policy recommendations earlier this year, which were accepted by the cabinet. Now all that the administration needs to do is issue a government resolution (GR) so that the policy can be implemented. The GR, which was to be issued earlier this month, has yet again been delayed. The state says it wants to issue the GR in January 2011 after considering public opinion. 
    "There is absolutely no need for the delay. We have already taken public opinion into account while drafting the policy. We held meetings with the public in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur to gauge what people wanted," said transport expert Indrani Malkani, a member of the state-appointed committee. 
    The committee's report details how to implement the school bus project. For starters, it makes school principals responsible for the transportation system. While children cannot use private transport to school, they are free to walk to school or use public transport. The benefits of the system are two-fold: it decongests the roads, and provides a safe, secure and efficient mode of transport for schoolchildren. 
    In 2002, Malkani—along with Mira Isaacs, principal of Cathedral & John Connon School, and Himanshu Roy, then DCP traffic—drafted a school bus system for Cathedral. The system, which ensured that all children came to school by bus, was a huge success. Besides creating strict safety guidelines for the system, an efficient route was charted out using a computer software which ensured that children spent the shortest possible time travelling to school. 
    Over the last eight years, several city schools have adopted Cathedral's system. In fact, the government-appointed committee to draft a school bus policy was set up to implement a system along the same lines. Now that it's ready, all that the government needs to do is to issue a GR. 
    Transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who has been instrumental in speeding up the process of devising a policy on the issue, says the delay is because of certain legal hassles that the government is trying to overcome. Once the policy is passed, he said, nobody should challenge it in court. 
    But Malkani feels that all legal issues have been addressed in the contract that the policy suggests between schools and bus contractors. The system was first implemented in Cathedral in 2002. If there were legal issues, Malkani says, they would have been brought up by now. 
    Frustrated with the delay in the implementation of the policy, many involved in the system are afraid that it will take another gruesome school bus accident to force the government to kick the ball into the goalpost. 
SAFE JOURNEY 
No student will be allowed to come to school in any vehicle other than the school bus. The only exception is for students who walk to school or use public transport 
Every school shall have a transport committee to look into the safe transportation of children, transportation fees, identification of bus stops and vehicle fitness 
The school principal shall be responsible for the children's ride to and from the school 
Bus drivers will have to submit annual medical certificates to the school 
Children will have to be insured by their parents and school bus owners shall obtain third party insurance for every vehicle 
The transport contractor shall employ attendants; the bus staff is not permitted to play music on the vehicle 
Every school bus shall carry information on every student, including the child's blood group and contact numbers 
Route numbers must be clearly displayed on the bus 
No food or drinks shall be offered to the children on the bus by the staff unless it is provided by the school 
Bus doors must be closed while the vehicle is in motion 
Penalties will be levied if the rules are broken


>>>



On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 12:08 AM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello all,

Here are some suggestions by Dr. Leo REBELLO to make school buses safer for the students and the public, see below.

Apart from the fact that the authorities have shown that there is hardly any interest in actually implementing the so called model school bus policy, it has already been delayed any number of times, and from what can be read, its going to be continuously postponed, and unlikely to be enforced.

With the result, it is a bad joke on the public, not to mention the hapless students.

The drivers continue to drive rashly, dangerously, totally violating all traffic rules, benignly overlooked by the operators and authorities.

See the attached picture, school bus with wide open windows, the student can fall out anytime.

But what does this matter with the 

01 Parents

02 Schools

03 Transport Commissionerate

04 MTP

05 \School bus contractors

06 Members of the Model School Bus Committee, who do not see or experience the day to day antics of the bus drivers and operators

There is this school at Juhu, as an example, though it happens everywhere


But anyone who has been on both North and South bound roads at Juhu opposite Plam Gorve Hotel during school ending times during the day, will know how the bus drivers, car drivers of tgis school, have taken over the road.

The example of Podar school monopolising the Santa Cruz roads, Sai Ganesh, Tour India, Aroon Travels, SBS, and all others use strong arm tactics, having made syndicates and cartels, have no use for any traffic rules, leave alone model code.

If the MTP, and RTA can't enforce such simple and basic rules and guidelines for school buses, then, we have simply lost it, since children will be brought up from a young age that they can break any and every rule, and follow these

01 Rules are meant to be broken

02 Rules are meant for those who follow them

03 There should be no rules

Thanqx.

Jagdeep DESAI

Secretary
Founder Trustee
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in  Mumbai Suburbs


>>>


>>>

New school bus policy delayed
HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Email Author
Mumbai, September 28, 2010
First Published: 00:43 IST(28/9/2010)
Last Updated: 00:44 IST(28/9/2010)
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The implementation of a new policy for school buses has got delayed by six months as the state transport department has now decided to go through with it only by January 2011. The policy, which makes it mandatory for schools to have stipulated changes in buses, was supposed to be implemented from 
June this year by every school.

"The new school bus policy would be ready for implementation by January 2011 and would be implemented in the next school term in June," said Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, state transport minister.

A detailed set of guidelines is already ready with the transport department and the only thing that is pending is an 
approval from the state government.

"We would be issuing a government resolution (GR) in the coming days for implementing the new school bus policy," 
said C Sangitrao, transport secretary.

Once the new policy gets implemented, all circulars and notices distributed by the schools to its students and parents regarding the school buses would be overridden.

The policy lays down few points like school students cannot be ferried in private vehicles like Sumo, Qualis, or Omni in groups.

Also vehicles used for commercial purposes can't be used to ferry students, as it then becomes a business. Even autorickshaws can carry only 5 children at a time.


>>>

Norms to minimise misuse of beacon cars (HT 24 Sept. 10) is a good step.
Likewise, there should be norms for school buses.
 
1..  Absolutely no shrill horns in school buses.
2..  Engine should not make noise and emit noxious gases.
3.. Buses should not blow horn to call students who are late.
That leads to noise pollution as also indiscipline among
students and parents.
4.. There should be limited school bus stops.  School buses
stopping at every 10 feet to pick up students, leads to pollution.
5.. School buses stopping at a road junction to pick up and
drop students is a safety hazard and should be penalised.
6.. Commuting time should be reduced so that small students
do not get tired.  
7.. There should be no overloading.
8.. There should be fire extinguisher and safety box in
each school bus.
9.. The school bus drivers and conductors should receive
First Aid training.
 
Dr. Leo Rebello
Director, Natural Health Centre, Bombay
Tel. 28872741
 

On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 7:10 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello all,

In reference to the much publicised model school bus guidelines, etc.

Has any follow up check bee done on how the same is being implemented, if at all, by schools and school buses.

From what I have seen on a daily and hourly basis, not a single school bus driver worth his salt, follows traffic rules, on duty, or off duty.

What I wrote just a couple of months ago before the school year started, is coming true, and absolutely valid.

There are the Maruti Suzuki Omnis, Tata Sumos, Toyota Qualis, private and public autos , etc., which overload their vehicles, and go about ferrying school children in the most dangerous manner.

Its God's Grace no accidents have taken place, remember the explosion to the Maruti Suzuki Omni sometime ago.

School bus drivers are most casual, careless, couldn't care less about traffic rules.

Schools couldn't careless either, unless something untoward happens.

Roads are blocked by double parked school buses, parents and drivers want to give door to door delivery and pick up, and some areas are totally out of control in peak hours, like near fancy play schools where the luxury sedans and the Memsaabs bring their precocious, sorry, precious, little ones to play for few hours, wasting peoples time in the traffic while the interface takes place.

Same stories everywhere, on main roads, on side roads.

Authorities couldn't careless either, since nothing untoward happens.

There is no compliance, absolutely no enforcement.

The mind numbs when we see school children being driven by rash and brash drivers, totally flouting rules, the children will learn that it is absolutely okay to break all traffic rules,  and the bus has 'how is my driving' written behind it.

Good joke by the contract bus operators.

Its alright to have it on paper, its another thing to see no nonsense implementation, zero tolerance to traffic offenses.

Our values are going, going, gone.

Anyway, life goes on.

Jagdeep DESAI
Architect

Secretary
Founder Trustee
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs

+91 98 6922 7148

>>>

On Thu, Jun 10, 2010 at 12:00 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello all,

It is really unfortunate that the policy document remains mostly on paper, because no one bothers to check the actual position on road.

There is total free for all even after all the new guidelines, policies, what to say about existing traffic rules.

In the Western and Eastern Suburbs, school bus contractors and drivers are anyway not bothered to follow traffic rules and laws, what to mention model school bus service policy.

And the directive that no private vehicle within two hundred metes of the school to drop or pick up children is truly unimplementable.

Come to any school, say in Khar, Santa Cruz, anywhere, and see the fun, sorry, chaos and time pass, sorry time waste.

There is just no compliance, no enforcement, any one wants to see, I will take them for a free tour

01 Buses are not road worthy, rattle, squeek, have rusted and sharp metal parts, seats are in ramshackle condition, dark, dingy, dirty

02 Drivers are observed talking on mobile while driving, not in uniform, many times in banian, chewing pan and generally at peace with themselves

03 Stop and park anywhere, including no parking areas, corners, wrong way, BEST bus stops, double parking, occupying lengths and lengths of main roads in middle of traffic

04 Still using illegal horns freely, even in silence zones, in residential areas

05 Not yellow

06 No contact numbers of school or operator or authority

Etc.

In any case, the models school bus service policy focusses on software rather than

01 Fail safe driving by not only those with five years experience but with care

02 Following traffic rules

03 Not using school buses, instead any khatara bus body doubles as school bus with the words 'on school bus duty' painted lackadaisically and for formality only 

04 Cleanliness, by not providing for the strictest enforcement by so called bus attendants, bus Mothers, by missing dust bins and waste containers for discarded packets, etc

05 Instead of GPRS system, etc., which bus has got lost in Mumbai, front, rear, and inside facing cameras as a rule, to record the safe and legal driving by drivers

06 Don't stop anywhere and everywhere to pick up and drop students, but have similar stops like for BEST buses, where school buses of all schools and operators must halt for children of that area

Etc.

As a user in my school days, and then observer since then, I still feel the main focus should be on safe and to rule driving, not only speed limit.

Everything else is just for feel good factors.

Why isn't BEST introducing dedicated school bus for children like Women's Special, on long routes in the general school hours.

Many children will utilise it if they are with the concession rates.

Thanqx.

Jagdeep

>>>

On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 9:27 PM, A.V.Shenoy <shenoyav@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Indrani
 
Good to know that your tireless efforts have finally resulted in framing of Rules and Regulations 2010 ....
 
In case you need any help in implementing the same at specific schools e.g. Queen Mary School you may call on me. I am sure others would also be willing to help in this cause which would save lives of many children.
 
Shenoy

G'evening Ajit,

Yes the Rules and Regulations 2010..... is applicable to any bus used for the purpose of busing school children.

The media reports on Saturday in all the dailies have ovbiously not reported the entire Policy points. Once it is officially declared it will be a public document.

By the way, a whole set of documentation is also in place for the schools as to how they should implement the Service and is part of the Policy as well.

Needless to say and repeat, the entire Service/Policy is based on the successful Model School Bus Service and I have been part of all deliberations, being a member of the Government Committee to frame the Policy and also interacting with the Transport Minister, who has taken a great interest in the whole matter.
Afterall, the Model School Bus Service has been a great success...eight years running!!

Sometimes, as I read mails from various transport activists giving their suggestions on the subject, I do wonder at some of them, as to why they have NEVER  acknowledged in their mails the existence of this successful Model which has been and is still being implemented in Mumbai even whilst the Policy was being drafted, and now ofcourse to be officially declared.

The first school in the western suburbs, Bai Avabai Petit Girls High School is flagging off the Bus Service tomorrow the 7th of June and in the city, Campion School is flagging off the Bus Service on Wednesday the 9th of June. I have put the Service together for both the schools at their invitation.

Thanks for keeping in touch,

Best wishes
Indrani Malkani



From: shenoyav@gmail.com
To: sujitjp@gmail.com; nandan.maluste@gmail.com; sulakshana.mahajan@gmail.com; rajendra_media@yahoo.com; neerapunj@hotmail.com; rajshrimehta@yahoo.com; write2god@yahoo.com; concastindia@vsnl.com; kisansbc@gmail.com; shenoyav@gmail.com; cmb123@rediffmail.com; waman.danait@gmail.com; vphatak@vsnl.net; datar.ashok@gmail.com; jagdeep.desai@gmail.com; jeetu21@gmail.com; indranimalkani@hotmail.com
Subject: Govt scripts norms for safety on school buses - DNA
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 08:44:13 +0530

Will this also apply to BEST buses being used exclusively as school buses?

Shenoy 

Govt scripts norms for safety on school buses

Surendra Gangan / DNA
Saturday, June 5, 2010 1:47 IST
Mumbai: Safety of schoolchildren is of paramount concern to the state government.
The school bus draft policy, framed by the state transport department, is expected to be approved in the next cabinet meeting and puts the onus of students' safety on school principals.
The draft also lays down norms, including the lifespan, for vehicles used to ferry schoolchildren.
"The committee headed by principals and comprising parents, PTA members and teachers will be set up at the school level to ensure that the norms are followed by the contractor. In case of any eventuality or violation of rules, the principal will be held responsible," chief minister Ashok Chavan said on Friday.
Chavan reviewed the policy framed by the transport department on Friday.
The norms state school buses will be given special permits and must be yellow in colour. The driver should have at least five years of experience and an attendant must be present on the bus always.
The contractor must have a list of the students travelling in the vehicle along with their blood groups and ensure only the prescribed number of students travel in the vehicle.
The speed limit of the buses will be restricted to 50kmph with the help of an in-built mechanism. "Safety doors and sufficient moving space are other requirements in the draft," an official said.
The policy also talks about restricting the lifespan of the buses to eight years. However, the contractors and operators oppose the move and want the duration increased to 15 years.
"They (the contractors) claimed that since the buses are not allowed to be used for any other purpose, it won't be feasible to discard them in eight years," the official said.
Vehicles, other than buses, need to obtain special permit to ferry students. "But autorickshaws are totally banned from ferrying schoolchildren. In the metropolis, they will have to phased out in a year, while in smaller cities, the period is two years. Autos in rural areas can be phased out in three years," transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said.
He added bus contractors and operators will be given special concessions such as rebate in taxes to encourage schools to have their own buses.

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