The safety of students is increasingly jeopardised by the rise of unlicensed school bus services. These illegal operators often disguise their vehicles to resemble legitimate school buses, misleading both enforcement officials and parents and posing significant risks to student safety.
As reported by NST, Farabi Said Al Jabri, a prominent safety advocate, has raised concerns about the lack of a reliable verification platform for parents to check the legitimacy of school bus services. He emphasised that when accidents occur, students using unlicensed services are not covered under public transportation regulations, as these vehicles are classified for personal use. Al Jabri also noted that these unlicensed vehicles typically do not meet the required safety standards and are not subjected to mandatory Puspakom inspections, thereby increasing the risk to students.
The issue is compounded by widespread parental unawareness. Many parents utilise school bus services operated by local drivers without verifying their legality or background. This practice contributes to the persistence of unlicensed services, as it is not always feasible for parents to question the legality of the services provided.
