Patna, Nov. 21: School buses meeting with accidents have become a regular feature in the city, as rules to tame rogue drivers and conductors remain confined to books. Three accidents in just six days proved that the claims on students’ security of the police and the schools were hollow.

The students are worried over the spate of accidents. So are their parents.

“Speed is something which has to be taken care of. Many a times our children have complained that their school bus drivers indulge in speeding. Why cannot they follow the rules? And why the police do not act seriously against them? The recent spate of accidents involving school buses, especially the incident of November 19, has shocked us,” a parent, requesting anonymity, said.

The daily commuters agreed.

“Most of the schools have hired minibuses. Their drivers have no regard for traffic rules. They drive rashly without even thinking that children are seated in the bus. Just painting the buses yellow will not help unless the cops get serious enough,” Kumar Prateek, who works in the Secretariat, said.

Proving Prateek right, an empty school bus of DAV, Punaichak, also known as DAV, BSEB, hit a car from the rear near Patna High Court this afternoon.

A betel shop owner of the area said: “An accident in the afternoon caused traffic blockade for some time. The bus, which was speeding a bit, hit a car. But after altercations, things got back to normal.”

The accident today was minor. But that of last Saturday proved fatal.

A packed school bus of Gyan Niketan School rammed into an autorickshaw near the New Bypass area under Gardanibagh police station in the evening. The autorickshaw, with eight persons on board, turned turtle.

“The injured persons were taken to a hospital. A woman died during the course of treatment,” an officer of Gardanibagh police station told The Telegraph.

The mishap was shocking for sure. But a bigger shock was in store after the mishap. The driver of the school bus fled leaving 50 students travelling in it.

“The police somehow arranged for transportation of the students. Parents of some of the students came to the spot, as their children were frightened. The driver is absconding. It seems he will surrender in the court because it is a bailable offence,” the officer added.

On November 16, a bus of Buddha Colony-based BD Public School hit a motorbike from the rear, causing serious injuries to a woman. An angry mob ransacked the school bus and even tried to set it ablaze.

The authorities of schools still believe all is well. Ramanuj Prasad, the principal of DAV, BSEB, said they keep constant tabs on the buses and drivers.

“We do not hire bus drivers without experience. If any driver is found in an inebriated state, he is not permitted to continue with his job. We have set a speed limit for the buses and they cannot exceed 42kmph,” he said.

The administration of the Gyan Niketan School said they were not completely aware of the November 19 incident.

S.M. Jha, the transport committee in-charge of the school, said: “The police said after inspection that an autorickshaw overtook the bus from the wrong side all of a sudden and so the accident occurred.”

Jha added that things were in order from their side. “We inspect the buses and keep tabs on the drivers regularly,” he added.

The police said some school buses flouted the norms laid down by them. “Some buses are not following the regulations. The police are looking into this matter. We will start a drive against them soon. School buses need to mend their ways,” a senior police officer said.