The Government Delegation in Galicia reports the start of a special campaign to control school transport. This surveillance campaign begins tomorrow, Monday, and will run until next Friday, day 26. During these days, and under the coordination of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), the agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard and the local police who join will verify that both buses and drivers comply with the regulations established in the matter, which includes, among other obligations, the need for minors to be accompanied by a duly qualified person on the trips.
This campaign has a special significance in Galicia due to the large extension of existing school transport routes in the Community. Galicia is the Spanish community with more school transport routes, between the public and those hired at all educational levels. According to the data of the educational authorities, in each academic year school transport service is provided to more than 95,000 students and students from about 900 public, concerted and private educational centers throughout Galicia.
Although surveillance by the Civil Guard Traffic Group is ongoing, preventive controls will be stepped up this week, especially on conventional roads and on urban roads. The aim is to make parents, educational leaders and bus drivers aware of the need to comply with the established rules regarding this type of transport.
Administrative controls will be carried out on the authorizations and documents that these vehicles must have for the correct provision of the service. It will also be verified that the technical conditions and safety elements of the vehicle are those required by the regulations, as well as the special requirements that must be met by the driver himself, such as the driving licence and rest times. Among the safety conditions that must be met by all school transports, the maximum age of vehicles intended for this type of passenger is stipulated, the insurance of unlimited civil liability or the obligation to carry the school transport signal.
Security and minors
According to the statistics of the DGT, 90% of accidents that occur during school transport take place at the time of getting in or out of the vehicle, or just in the immediate moments and, in many cases, these are atrocities caused by a distraction of the child, the driver of the school transport or the companions. The DGT also mentions that a large proportion of serious injury claims are related to the lack of proper use of security belts.
Previous campaign result
In the equivalent campaign of control of school transport carried out in December last year, 371 vehicles were controlled, of which 190 were denounced and 359 the denunciations made.
Administrative irregularities are the ones that generated the highest number of complaints, 6 out of 10. Among the causes of these administrative infractions, they include not having special authorization to carry out school transport or not having subscribed to unlimited liability insurance, as required by law.