Traffic authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have advised motorists, bus drivers and parents to follow safety protocols to ensure the safety of children at the start of the new school year. Motorists and bus drivers have been cautioned to avoid dangerous mistakes that can lead to a dangerous road situation near the premises of schools, while parents have also been advised to comply with safe driving practices.
Traffic authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have also announced heavy penalties for motorists who ignore the “Stop Sign” on school buses and don’t wait for the school buses to clear the route. The possibility of run-over accidents can increase in the rush hours near schools and in order to avoid that, motorists are warned against over-speeding in the areas surrounding school buildings.
Dear motorists: slow down and be careful when entering and exiting school zones.#DubaiPolice #Advice #BackToSchool pic.twitter.com/NYVfVPEt9X
— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) September 17, 2017
Authorities Warn Motorists against Over-speeding near Schools
Motorists have been warned by the traffic authorities to avoid over-speeding and stop when they see the “Stop Sign” on the school buses. The stop arm of the buses automatically drops open when the buses pick up or drop off students. This is the time when the danger of a deadly collision between a speeding vehicle and children is at maximum. Motorists must be aware that they can face serious penalties if found guilty of this life-threatening offence.
Penalties for Ignoring Stop Signal on School Buses
The Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police for Operations Affairs and Chairman of the Federal Traffic Council, Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, warned motorists against ignoring the “Stop Sign” on school buses and said that authorities will penalize the offenders with a heavy fine of AED 1,000 and 10 black points against their driving license. This penalty is in line with the Resolution No. 178 of 2017 and Resolution No. 91 of the traffic rules and procedures.
Motorists who stop their vehicle at a distance less than 5 meters will also face these penalties as it is a safety requirement to stop the vehicle at a fair distance when motorists see the stop sign on school buses. Not only the motorists, but the bus drivers have also been warned by the authorities as they could also be penalized with a fine of AED 500 and six black points if they don’t display the stop arm when picking up or dropping off children.
Also read: Traffic Violations that Can Lead to Cancellation of a Driving License in the UAE
Safety Instructions for Bus Drivers and Parents
Traffic authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have advised parents and bus drivers to be careful when dropping and picking up children. Authorities have urged parents not to let their children cross the road alone as that can be extremely dangerous, especially in the rush hours. Parents are also advised to ensure that they seat their children aged below 12 at the back seats and ask them to wear the seatbelt. Parents who fail to do so can face penalties under the new seatbelt rules.
On the other hand, the bus drivers have also been instructed by the authorities to follow safety protocols when they pick up or drop off children. Bus minders have been instructed to make sure that children comply with safety practices. These safety practices include standing near the bus stop in groups at least 10 steps away from the bus and boarding in an organized way when the bus arrives.
Official Statement on the Safety Plan for New School Year
The Dubai Traffic Programme is ready for a new school year with increased patrols and enhanced supervision of all the areas near schools to ensure maximum safety of the children. Major Saif Al Zafin revealed that 40 Traffic Police officers, 20 Traffic Patrols and 20 sergeants, were specially assigned the duties to monitor and manage traffic near schools.
In Abu Dhabi, authorities have devised a complete safety plan to ensure the safety of children at the start of the new school year as well. Brigadier Ali Khalfan Al Dhaheri, director of the Central Operations Department of the force, said that the Abu Dhabi Police is ready for the new academic year and traffic patrols have been intensified particularly at the intersections near schools for smooth movement of traffic and safety of children.
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