Auto drivers moan over 6-only rule

BANGALORE: “My son constantly complained of body pain every day after he returned from school. The day I saw how he sits in auto, I decided it was too dangerous,” said Deepthi, who stopped hiring autos for her two children an year ago. She opines that autos are too dangerous and uncomfortable when overloaded and must be discouraged by all. “Tempo drivers today charge Rs 1,200 per month per child, it is so much safer, the school must have tie-ups with Tempo drivers to ensure safety of children,” said Nilanjana, another parent.School autorickshaws crammed with kids is a common sight on city roads. Earlier when traffic rules enforcement was lax, more than ten kids were made to fit in a single auto with the seat dropped down and two children sitting up front with the auto driver. Times have changed, however, and now the Bangalore Traffic Police seem to be stringent in ensuring autos carry the prescribed number of school children. In a drive started against auto drivers who overload their vehicles with school children, the traffic police have booked 2,400 cases in the past three months. “The prescribed limit is six children or three adults per auto, anything above this figure is unsafe for the passengers, as well as the traffic as it exceeds the optimum load for the vehicle,” said M A Saleem, Additional Commissioner of Police for Traffic. He added that the drive has been operational since July and will continue for some more time. “We want to bring a change in the mindset of auto drivers and parents. We request them to not send their children in overloaded autorickshaws as well,” he said. Auto drivers in the city, however, complain of losses and non-feasibility by plying with just six passengers. “Six children will not even cover our monthly expenditure, I agree overcrowding is bad for the children but six is a very low figure,” said Thimmegowda, an auto driver who ferries school children. “The police must at least allow ten children in an auto, we know our responsibilities as well. School auto drivers are responsible drivers, but we should be able to earn enough to meet our ends,” said another driver on condition of anonymity.