The Department of Road Transportation has been working at a fast pace in preparation for the start of the new school year and the resumption of school bus routes, with the goal of ensuring students’ safe transportation.
In remarks made on the occasion of the start of the school year, the Head of the Public Passenger Transport Sector, Andreas Nikiforou, stated that the department has been working intensively over the past period, carrying out the necessary inspections of the buses.
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As he noted, a total of 670 buses have been inspected, approved, and put into service, while inspections continue on both new and existing vehicles, which are expected to be gradually incorporated into the school transportation fleet.
Mr. Nikiforos also clarified that private companies have been notified in writing regarding the buses they are authorized to use and put into service as part of the school transportation program.
Inspections at schools starting early in the morning
When asked whether inspections would also be conducted on the streets, Mr. Nikiforou stated that inspectors from the Department of Transportation have been at schools since early in the morning to conduct inspections.
So far, he noted, inspections have been conducted at 10 schools, with no significant problems identified.
The inspections will continue throughout the day, with inspectors having clear instructions for checking the buses. At the same time, additional inspections will be conducted during the midday hours, when classes end and school bus routes begin.
According to Mr. Nikiforos, the goal is to gradually inspect all schools and ensure that student transportation is provided using appropriate and approved vehicles.
“Under no circumstances should an uninsured bus be on the roads.”
Mr. Nikiforos emphasized that companies are required to provide school transportation services using the proper and approved fleet of vehicles.
“Companies are required to provide the school bus service with the proper fleet and the proper vehicles,” he stated.
At the same time, he placed particular emphasis on the issue of bus insurance, assuring that no uninsured vehicle will be allowed on the roads of Cyprus.
“Under no circumstances will an uninsured bus be allowed on the roads of Cyprus,” he emphasized, assuring that no student will board a bus that lacks the necessary insurance coverage.
As he noted, the purpose of all these inspections is to ensure the necessary safety and to guarantee that students travel safely every day, both on their morning commute to school and on their return home at noon.
