School safety plan unveiled as Hyderabad adopts zero-tolerance road safety approach
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Police unveiled a comprehensive School safety plan to protect children during their daily commute and address growing road safety concerns across the city.
Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar announced the initiative at a joint stakeholder meeting held at Ravindra Bharathi. He said authorities would enforce road safety and child protection measures with a zero-tolerance approach.
The Commissioner noted that Hyderabad has 92.96 lakh registered vehicles. Moreover, nearly 1,500 new vehicles are added every day, increasing pressure on city roads.
School safety plan targets accidents and minor driving
According to police data, Hyderabad recorded 1,604 road accidents between January and May this year. Among the victims, 128 were below 18 years of age. Police also booked 2,539 cases of minor driving during the same period. In addition, authorities suspended 719 vehicle registrations for violations.
Sajjanar warned that parents who allow minors to drive can face imprisonment of up to three years and fines of up to Rs.25,000. Furthermore, special medical camps screened 1,014 school vehicle drivers. Officials found vision-related problems in 316 drivers and stressed the need for regular health checks.
School safety plan mandates stricter transport measures
Under the School safety plan, school managements must maintain detailed transport databases and monitor student travel arrangements.
They must also deploy traffic marshals, install CCTV cameras and prevent overcrowding in school autos. Additionally, schools must comply with all prescribed transport safety norms.
A recent survey highlighted serious infrastructure deficiencies around educational institutions. Officials found that 80% of schools lacked school-zone signboards, while 90% did not have speed-limit boards. Moreover, nearly 70% of schools lacked zebra crossings and designated pick-up and drop-off zones.
Officials from the Transport Department, GHMC and UNICEF emphasised the need for safer school zones, stronger infrastructure and greater parental responsibility.
Sajjanar urged educational institutions to treat student safety as a key performance indicator alongside academic achievement. He said every child should travel to school and return home safely each day.