The Government Delegation in Galicia reports the start of a special campaign of control and surveillance of school transport that will extend from tomorrow, Monday, to next Friday, day 22. 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 this initiative 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 lines, up to 3,800 between public and contracted ones at all educational levels. According to the data of the educational authorities, in each academic year the school transport service welcomes more than 90,000 students and 7,000 services are provided daily.
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 seat belts.
Previous campaign result
In the equivalent campaign of control of school transport carried out in January of this year last year, 297 vehicles were controlled, of which 139 were denounced with 216 complaints made.
Administrative irregularities are the ones that generated the highest number of complaints, six out of 10. Among the causes of these administrative infractions, they highlight not having special authorization to carry out school transport or not subscribing to an unlimited liability insurance.