The Hyderabad Traffic police conducted a special drive targeting auto-rickshaw drivers who were violating traffic rules, especially those transporting school children. A total of 621 auto-rickshaw drivers were booked for various violations to ensure the safety of children traveling to and from school.
A special team was formed to conduct the drive during peak school hours from 7.30 to 9.30 am and 3 to 5 pm. The focus was on checking auto-rickshaws without fitness certificates, drivers without licenses, cases of drunken driving, overloading (more than six children in a three-passenger auto-rickshaw and eight children in a four-passenger auto-rickshaw), and minors driving vehicles.
On Thursday, the traffic police issued 621 cases against auto-rickshaws for violations such as driving without a license, carrying extra school children, minors driving, piloting with a driver, wrong-side driving, not wearing uniforms, and lacking necessary documents.
Teams will meet with school management to counsel parents who are carrying extra children on two-wheelers and educate them about safety and security measures for children. Parents are urged not to send their children in vehicles that exceed their seating capacity as it poses a risk to their safety.
The traffic police also advised schools and parents to verify the validity of documents, driver’s licenses, registration certificates, insurance certificates, and fitness certificates of vehicles used to transport children to school. They are also requested to check the background and behavior of drivers before hiring them. Citizens are encouraged to report any traffic violations by school buses, vans, and autos to the traffic police through social media platforms or the Traffic Help Line for the safety of school children.