With the southwest monsoon fast approaching, the delay in launching the annual pre-monsoon fitness inspection of private buses in Kozhikode district has raised safety concerns among road users. Unlike previous years, when the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) carried out comprehensive inspections well ahead of the rainy season, this year’s safety drive is yet to be discussed with enforcement squads.
Heads of some of the educational institutions in the rural area point out that the laxity shown by vehicle operators and the authorities concerned in the absence of any official advisories is being viewed as a sign of non-cooperation in mitigating the increasing number of road accidents in the district. They complain that many private buses, heavily relied upon by day scholars, continue to operate with worn-out tyres and open doors, posing serious risks on rain-soaked roads.
Though isolated flash inspections have been conducted in various parts of the district, a comprehensive safety audit ahead of the school reopening season is yet to be finalised. Citing staff shortage, officials are of the view that vehicle owners themselves should take primary responsibility for carrying out pre-monsoon checks.
Members of various community rescue squads in the Vadakara, Kuttiyadi and Perambra regions say the continued use of bald tyres in buses is suspected to be causing dangerous situations such as aquaplaning, poor braking and blowouts.
Automobile service experts have also expressed concern over the continuing negligence of vehicle owners in carrying out mandatory annual fitness checks. “There are people who even ignore the timely replacement of brake pads. Some skip periodic inspections and oil changes to save money,” said a senior service advisor with a leading automobile company in Kozhikode city.
At the same time, a section of private bus owners, countering public complaints over fitness violations, claimed that the poor condition of roads should also be taken into account while reviewing safety issues. Enforcement squads should first examine the condition of roads on accident-prone routes as a primary responsibility, they demanded.
Meanwhile, MVD officers said that the first phase of the pre-monsoon inspection drive would mainly focus on vehicles operated by educational institutions. School buses under the Kozhikode Regional Transport Office will be inspected at the Malabar Christian College ground on May 20 from 7 a.m. Vehicles that pass the inspection will be issued special stickers. A training session for school bus drivers will also be organised, and certificates issued at the end will have to be produced during future inspections, officials said, adding that the inspection of private buses would be conducted in the second phase.