Driver caught for carrying 36 kids into a 19-seat school bus

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Regardless laws that bar school bus drivers in China from carrying children beyond the seating limit of a vehicle, some still violate the restriction and put the lives of their innocent passengers at risk.

On Thursday, police in east China's Jiangxi Province caught a 19-seat bus packed with 36 kids. After intercepting the crowded vehicle, on its way from the school, officers were surprised to find the number of children, including 34 preschool students, that came off the school bus.

An inquiry revealed that the driver, identified as Nie, admitted that he had violated the regulations on the request of a teacher. The kindergarten teacher had asked him to take all the students, who were supposed to be taken home in two drives, in a single trip so that the teacher could leave early from work.

Nie agreed and took 36 kids on a dangerous ride.

The police later sent the kids back home, while Nie would face criminal charges for his misconduct. The case will be further investigated.

This is not the first case in China where a school bus carried more than its maximum capacity. It has been reported that a seven-seat school bus was intercepted by police in eastern China's Jiangsu Province, carrying 29 children and two adults in September.

Another tragedy happened in 2011 when 21 people including 19 preschool students were killed after an overloaded school bus hit a truck in northwest China's Gansu Province.

In 2011, 21 people including 19 preschool students were killed after an overloaded school bus hit a truck in northwest China's Gansu Province. /Photo from Chinanews.cn

To discipline overloaded school buses, the Chinese government has brought in strict regulations on school bus safety management. Driver carrying passengers that exceed maximum capacity face harsh punishment and the vehicle is confiscated till criminal deregistration.