Autos continue packed ride with schoolkids

Bengaluru: Sneaking snacks between classes or celebrating a cancelled math period are the kind of fond school memories many cherish. But, being crammed into an overcrowded autorickshaw on the way to school rarely makes that list. In Bengaluru, regulations limit autorickshaws to carrying three or four students, depending on the vehicle’s size.

School vans and buses face strict capacity limits, mandatory speed governors, and vehicle fitness rules. Despite these safeguards, many vehicles flout the law, endangering children on their daily commutes.

“It’s now rare to see over loaded autos or even autos picking up students in the central business district. That’s likely due to stricter enforcement of rules and more parents choosing school buses or personal drop-offs,” said a traffic police officer. The police regularly fine and warn auto drivers for overloading, noting that even carrying three students requires prior approval, he added.

Yet enforcement remains patchy, and overloaded autos continue to operate unchecked in many parts of the city. Earlier this year, the dangers of overloading were starkly highlighted when an autorickshaw carrying 23 children overturned on a curve near Narwa village in Mancherial, injuring four students. The crash under scored the urgent need for stricter safety enforcement.

“Parents also share the blame for putting their children in such dangerous situations,” said a concerned parent, explaining that it isn’t only drivers at fault. Even if the driver says the auto is full, they insist on squeezing in their kids too. While financial constraints are real, they argued, children’s safety must come first.

Many families opt for autos as they are less costly than private vans or school buses, and are perceived as safer than sending children alone on public buses. Although such overloading is less common today than in the past, it has not disappeared.

“I used to travel to school in autos and felt so suffocated be cause of how many kids were stuffed inside,” said Pavitra Anil Kumar, now a parent herself. She stressed that she would never allow her son to ride in an overloaded auto.

“The fact that it’s open on both sides makes it even scarier,” she added. The Bengaluru traffic police conduct regular enforcement drives out side schools and on major roads during school hours.

By June 2025, over 7,900 vehicles had been booked for violations. Recent crack downs specifically targeted autorickshaws, resulting in thousands of fines and even the seizure of some school vehicles. Despite these efforts, many continue to operate in violation of safety norms.