Patna, Feb. 8: Mend your school bus or the men-in-unifom will seize them. The message from the Patna traffic police is loud and clear.

By the coming weekend, a new “strict” set of regulations from the Patna traffic police would be sent to schools in the capital.

The traffic department are drawing up a set of rules and regulations to streamline operations of school buses.

Patna traffic superintendent of police (SP) Ajit Kumar Sinha told The Telegraph: “The guidelines would be ready by tomorrow evening and the same would be circulated among all the schools by this weekend.”

Schools have to adhere to the rules and regulations in entirety or be ready for stringent fines and penalties, Sinha said. The officer added the approach would be practical, as children use buses to go to schools everyday.

“Monday’s incident at DAV Public School was shocking. The driver needed to apply his brakes. We, in consultation with the Delhi traffic police, are bringing out a set of rules and guidelines meant for running school buses. Schools must follow them and there cannot be any discussion on that. Schools not following the same would be fined and there is a possibility of confiscation of the buses too,” the SP said.

Sixteen-year-old Shweta Suman had come under the wheels of her school bus after her two-wheeler skidded on a patch of oil on the road.

“Many schools hire private operators to run buses to transport children. Several such buses are in a bad shape and overloading is a major problem. We will send our sergeant-majors to all schools to check on the buses. Registration papers and other documents will be checked. Bus drivers will also be screened. Buses, which are old and do not have proper papers, will be seized immediately. Checks will begin this week,” Sinha said.

Though the SP refrained from divulging the entire set of guidelines, some of them include proper display of the names of schools in the front and rear of each bus.

“We don’t want the schools to hire private operators to run buses. This is one of the core causes of problems. They will have to purchase their own buses. They can do it in a phase-wise manner,” Sinha said.

“The rules, we know, will lead to some problems with the schools refusing to agree. But they will have to follow the rules. Students need to use buses everyday and that concerns us. The approach will be practical. But lapses will not be allowed,” the SP added.

“Schools need to hire good and trained drivers. We are in talks with the district transport office on the matter. A rash driver cannot be allowed to drive a school bus. It is the responsibility of the schools to have drivers who are well-trained and know the sensitive nature of the job,” he said.