Sir,

While expressing his concerns on safety of school children, Prof. K.V. Satyan, in his letter, clearly described how children are being taken to schools in various modes of transportation and the risks involved in the way the children are being taken to schools (SOM dated June 8).

Supplementing to his concerns, I have recently noticed school children being taken to school in a goods auto in the periphery of Mysuru city (see photo). I do not know whether it is a one-time occasion or a daily routine for these children.

Children are not goods to be transported to school in this fashion. The safety is totally ignored. The goods auto driver may not know what is happening in his back. Children in playful mood may do mischief that may lead to a safety issue.

Besides this, some of the school auto drivers are seen talking over the mobile while driving and violating lane discipline at the zebra crossing by going on to other side of the road risking collision if any vehicle takes a turn towards the auto at the crossing. Safety of the school children is the responsibility of the drivers of the school autos or vans and they need to act accordingly.

– Dr. S.V.N. Vijayendra,  Traffic  Warden, Mysuru, 10.6.2017