BENGALURU: A surprise inspection by traffic police on Tuesday morning revealed that 23 school bus and van drivers were driving under the influence of alcohol. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) MN Anucheth expressed shock and emphasized the need for stringent measures to combat this issue. Authorities are considering legal action under the Juvenile Justice Act against educational institutions whose drivers were caught.
During the operation, conducted from 7 am to 9:30 am, police intercepted 3,016 school vehicles, identifying 23 inebriated drivers. Some vehicles were stopped before picking up children, while others were checked after reaching school premises. In several instances, alternative vehicles were arranged to ensure students reached school safely. The apprehended drivers were charged under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, with their licenses seized and recommended for cancellation by RTOs.
Anucheth highlighted additional safety violations, mentioning the seizure of 11 vehicles lacking fitness certificates, which were also forwarded to the RTOs. The last similar operation took place on January 23, when 16 drivers were caught driving under the influence.
Anucheth stressed the importance of schoolchildren’s safety during commutes and urged schools to prevent drunk drivers from taking the wheel. He also called on parents to actively engage with school managements regarding their children’s safety, emphasizing that social and moral pressure from parents can be more effective than waiting for police intervention.