Simultaneous checks were conducted in five police districts under Kochi police range As many as 14 drivers were booked from rural areas in Ernakulam Police will coordinate with Motor Vehicle Department to cancel the license of drunken drivers
Parents are a worried lot after an alarming number of school bus drivers booked for driving under the influence of alcohol. The surprise check conducted by police in the five police districts in Kochi police range during the morning hours found several school bus drivers in an inebriated state.
Kerala police conducted sudden checks in various police districts including Kochi and booked 38 drivers for drunken driving. They were found operating the vehicles with the children on board. Police cracked down on errant drivers in Kochi city, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki and Kottayam police districts. The raids started about 6 am and continued until 11 am and as many as 200 buses were checked.
The highest number of drivers were booked from rural areas in Ernakulam, 14, followed by Alappuzha, 13. Five cases each were registered in Kottayam and Kochi city, and one was booked in Idukki.
The police will contact Motor Vehicle Department to make sure that the driving licence of booked drivers is cancelled.
"Such drivers risk the lives of kids. Finding them in an inebriated state in the morning hours shows that they are severely alcoholic," Kochi Range IG P Vijayan said.
It was the students who informed about the issue to police. Inputs from Student Police Cadets and interaction with students during 'Clean campus safe campus' campaign too used useful.
"It was the students who informed us that some of the school bus drivers are operating buses after consuming alcohol. Some had even complained about misbehaviour," Vijayan said.
"School authorities are also responsible. The are supposed to make sure that the drivers can commute children safely. Parents too have to ensure that they are sending their children in safe hands," he said.
