Hyderabad: Traffic officials have found that 55,995 school bus drivers engaged by educational institutions were using mobile phones while transporting students.The Hyderabad Traffic Police shared the findings during “Safety for School Children”, a coordination meeting involving govt agencies and school managements. Officials also highlighted that 94% of children travelling as pillion riders on two-wheelers do not wear helmets, despite it being mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act.The meeting focused on growing concerns over road safety among schoolchildren. Officials noted that nearly 7,500 people lose their lives in road accidents every year in Telangana, with children accounting for a significant proportion of the fatalities. Between Jan and May 2026, seven children reportedly died in road accidents, including cases linked to underage driving and the non-use of helmets.Addressing the gathering, Joel Davis, joint commissioner of police (Traffic), urged schools to maintain detailed records of students’ modes of transport, including private vehicles and autorickshaws.“School managements should not limit themselves to tracking students who use school buses. They should also maintain a database of children using private transportation and share the information with authorities when required,” he said.Authorities also identified vision-related issues among 316 of the 1,014 school bus drivers screened, raising concerns about the safety of children commuting to and from schools.School representatives also raised concerns about traffic congestion around educational institutions. A representative of Jubilee Hills Public School requested one-way traffic regulation during peak hours, noting that multiple schools in the area experience severe congestion during drop-off and pick-up times.Mangu Jyothi of Success School highlighted the problem of rash driving near her school and sought increased police deployment in vulnerable areas.Meanwhile, a govt school headmaster pointed to monsoon-related traffic disruptions caused by autorickshaws. “Though school ends at 4 pm, students often reach home only by 7 pm or 8 pm during heavy rains. Primary school students should be allowed to leave earlier during the monsoon season,” the headmaster suggested.Speaking at the event, Hyderabad police commissioner VC Sajjanar stressed that awareness campaigns alone would not be enough. “These events alone cannot bring change. The recommendations discussed today must be implemented by school managements, parents and students,” he said, adding that action would be taken against school bus drivers found driving under the influence of alcohol.Expressing concern over rising instances of underage driving and other behavioural issues, Sajjanar said: “Children are increasingly getting involved in offences related to drugs, underage driving and harassment of women. Schools and parents must work together to ensure that children develop a sense of responsibility and discipline.”A total of 2,539 cases of underage driving were booked between Jan 1 and 31 May 2026.The commissioner also felicitated representatives of schools that have appointed traffic marshals to promote road safety awareness around school premises.GHMC commissioner RV Karnan, IAS, raised concerns about parents parking vehicles on roads while waiting to pick up their children.“We want to make Hyderabad a truly safe city for children, and GHMC will work closely with all stakeholders to achieve that goal,” he said.Dr Zelalem Birhanu, UNICEF chief of field office for Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, said: “Every child has the right to travel safely to and from school. Protecting children on roads is an investment in our future.”During enforcement drives, a school bus driver was caught driving under the influence of alcohol and was found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of more than 300, raising serious concerns about the safety of children travelling in school buses.
