CCTV cameras in school vehicles must: TN govt

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has proposed to amend the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles (Regulations and Control of School Buses) Special Rules, 2012 to install cameras and parking sensors in every school bus for the safety of school children.

According to the draft amendment, every school bus would be fitted with cameras and parking sensors. All the buses would have a camera fixed at the front end, it said, adding that a camera would be fixed at the rear end in such a manner that the driver while taking reverse can have a complete view of the rear side. The school bus should also have parking sensors at the rear end to give a warning signal.

The government has published the draft amendment to the Motor Vehicles Rules and has sought objections or suggestions from any person within 30 days of publication of the notification in the state government gazette. Any objection or suggestion should be addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai.

According to the transport department sources, there are over 34,000 educational institution buses across the State.

In line with the Supreme Court and the Madras High Court order considering the importance of the school-going children, the state government framed the TN Motor Vehicles (Regulation and Control of School Buses) Special Rules, 2012. As per the rules, before the commencement of the academic year, the school buses are subjected to inspection by the special committees to ensure that vehicles should carry valid fitness certificates, insurance and permit. The school buses are checked for the fitment of CCTV cameras and GPS systems at the time of registration and renewal of FC.