Action plan in place

KOCHI: Just before the academic year 2011-2012 begins, the City Traffic Police under City Police Commissioner M R Ajit Kumar has come out with an action plan to ensure the safe conveyance of students. The following are the rules that will come to effect from the first day of the academic year:Strict action will be taken against vehicles  carrying students beyond the prescribed number and without the permit. The traffic police will be posted in front of each school to identify offenders.The school authorities have been informed to assign traffic wardens to control the traffic.The condition of the vehicles that belong to a particular institution as well as the hired vehicles has to be checked by the officials of the Motor Vehicles Department, and the certificate issued is to be kept in the vehicle.A record of all the school drivers and the vehicles are to be registered and kept in the traffic station.Both the police and the school authorities are directed to ensure that the drivers are well experienced and behave well.A 'Road Safety Club' will be formed in every school, and classes on road safety and traffic rules will be taken. Skilled students will be chosen to assist the traffic police to control traffic.A traffic-awareness seminar was conducted for 40 school drivers recently. Such seminars by experts in the field will be organised for the drivers and the chosen students of each school.Illegal parking near the school premises will be checked. It will be ensured that the vehicles meant for school children are parked neatly.A meeting of the school authorities and the PTA will be called to discuss matters that will ensure the safety of the children in the school and during the journey.It has been decided that officials from the Traffic Police Station will organise classes on road safety in every school.The school authorities have been directed to set up necessary sign boards in the school premises.City traffic West Assistant Commissioner A R Prem Kumar and City traffic East Assistant Commissioner K S Beby Vinod have been asked by the City Commissioner of Police to ensure the efficient execution of the action plan.