Transportes Minister Urging For A Safe Back To School
As the summer school vacations wind down, students, teachers, parents and the Consejo de Transporte Publico (CTP) are getting ready for back to school next week.

While parents shop for school supplies and uniforms, teachers prepare their lessons and students taken in the last days of free time to enjoy themselves, those responsible for the safety of the children are also working to ensure a safe return to school.

Vivian Martín, vice-president of Transportes and president of the CTP, said that there 3.045 registered minivans and buses that are authorized to transport students beginning on February 7.

According to Martín all the vehicles have met the requirements to take to the streets to carry students, vehicles that are clearly identified by the yellow sign that reads "transporte de estudiantes".

To ensure the safety of the children, Martín said that 120 Tránsito (traffic) officials have been assigned the task of ensuring a safe return to school by keeping an eye on traffic, especially in and around schools near high traffic, and helping students cross the street.

Martín added that during the school year there will be stop checks by Tránsito officials to ensure that the school vehicles are maintained and operating safely.

All school vehicles have to be issued a permit by the CTP, which permit will be closely scrutinized by traffic officers to ensure that they are real and with the official CTP seal. Martín said Tránsito officials will carry a black light to ensure the security seal on the document is original.

All school transport vehicles must also have, in addition to the RTV vehicular inspection permit, a complimentary insurance policy issued by the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) - the state insurance company.

"We will be keeping an eye on all minivans including having an additional person, designated to maintain order within the vehicle and assist the driver", said Martín.

The CTP president made it clear that the additional person in the school vehicle is to ensure that students stay within the vehicle from the moment they get on to the moment they get off and that each student is wearing their seatbelt.

Drivers who fail to adhere to the regulations risk losing their permit to carry the students and the Tránsito official will have the authority to confiscate the license plates of the vehicle, including confiscating the vehicle itself.

Martín is urging that all those who transport students comply with the regulations and is also asking parents and teachers to report drivers who do not comply, to ensure a safe school year.