Rs 5.57 lakh fine, 2021 buses booked: Kerala Police crack down after open-door bus accidents

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Police booked 2,021 buses for violations during a week-long statewide special drive against buses operating with their doors open, officials said on Wednesday.

The drive was conducted from September 23 to 30 following deaths and serious injuries in accidents involving passengers falling from buses through open doors, according to a police statement.
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Drive launched after bus accidents

Passengers had died in such incidents in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam districts, while a passenger was injured in Thrissur.

Following these incidents, police conducted inspections to ensure that bus doors remained closed and were in safe working condition while the vehicles were in motion.

During the drive, police inspected 31,408 buses across the state.

A total of 2,021 buses were found violating the rules, and fines amounting to Rs 5.57 lakh were collected, officials said.

Police also conducted 2,014 awareness programmes, which were attended by 10,784 people.
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Further inspections to continue

The drive was carried out under the supervision of the Inspector General of Traffic and Road Safety Management, with the participation of district police chiefs, Traffic Zonal Superintendents of Police and enforcement personnel.

The highway patrol units and enforcement wing will continue inspections in the coming days, police said.

The public can report bus safety violations through the dedicated ‘Shubhayathra’ WhatsApp number of the Traffic and Road Safety Management’s road safety initiative.

Passengers can send photographs, audio or video of violations along with details such as the district, location, date, time and vehicle registration number, police said.

PTI