Call for national school transport safety policy in India

Rajya Sabha member Fauzia Khan has called for a national school transport policy to improve safety for school vehicles, including buses and vans. She highlighted the rising number of accidents and the lack of uniform safety measures across states. Khan noted that current Indian law does not require seat belts in school buses, and while some states have safety measures like CCTV, they are not consistently enforced. She emphasized the need for regulations to cover all transport options, including auto rickshaws. The proposed policy would mandate safety features such as seat belts, CCTVs, and GPS in school vehicles. Khan also urged for better enforcement of existing guidelines on speed limits and overcrowding, along with regular training for drivers.