More than 75,000 driving safety events were recorded across 598 school buses operating in 61 Indian cities during the first half of 2026, according to a study released by AI-powered analytics company Intangles.

The study, Interesting Angles – Episode 2: Beyond the Rulebook, analysed four driving behaviours: speeding, hard braking, harsh acceleration and coasting. It found that one in five school buses in the sample recorded at least one speeding incident. In Delhi, the proportion rose to four in five buses.

The analysis also identified 116 school buses that recorded speeding incidents every two to three days. During these incidents, the buses travelled at an average speed of around 79 km/h, compared with the prescribed limit of 40 km/h cited in the report.

According to Intangles, the findings indicate that compliance with existing safety requirements, including speed governors and GPS tracking, may not provide a complete picture of driving behaviour.

Hard braking accounts for most safety alerts

Hard braking accounted for 81.5% of flagged safety events among the school buses analysed. On average, each bus recorded 126 flagged events over the six-month period, including around 103 hard braking incidents.

The study also identified a rise in hard braking events between 7 am and 8 am, a period that coincides with the morning school commute. Intangles termed this pattern the “Bell Effect”.

The report noted that traffic congestion, tight schedules and the pressure to reach schools on time could be factors behind the pattern. However, it did not establish a direct link between these factors and the recorded incidents.

School buses show higher shares of selected driving alerts

The study compared the distribution of driving alerts in school buses with those in city buses. School buses recorded higher shares of alerts for harsh acceleration, hard braking and coasting.

Intangles clarified that these figures represent the distribution of alerts within each vehicle category and do not measure incident rates per journey.

Maharashtra records higher share of harsh acceleration

The study found regional differences in driving behaviour, with Maharashtra recording a 30% share of harsh acceleration events in the report’s regional comparison, compared with the national average of 5%.

Within Maharashtra, Pune recorded a 42% share of harsh acceleration events, while Mumbai recorded 15%.

The report said these differences warrant further examination of driver behaviour and operating conditions across locations.

Commenting on the findings, Anup Patil, CEO of Intangles, said compliance with requirements such as speed governors, GPS tracking and onboard safety equipment does not necessarily indicate how safely a school bus is driven.

He said the study found repeated instances of speeding and hard braking during routine journeys, highlighting the need to monitor driving behaviour alongside regulatory compliance.

Vikram Melapudi, Chief AI Scientist at Intangles, said schools and safety officers need better visibility into driving patterns to identify risks, address unsafe practices and improve driver accountability.

The findings come as school transport safety requirements continue to evolve. Maharashtra's rules introduced in July 2026 include provisions covering seat belts, CCTV, live video access, GPS tracking, panic buttons, digital attendance and integration with state monitoring systems.

At the national level, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are also being phased into newly manufactured buses and trucks between 2026 and 2028, according to the report.

Intangles said monitoring driving behaviour, analysing trip data, using cameras and providing structured driver coaching could help schools and fleet operators identify recurring risks. The company added that these measures could complement existing safety requirements, including for vehicles already in operation.