POLICE ISSUE STARK ROAD-SAFETY WARNING FOR NEW SCHOOL YEAR
▶ Thousands of extra vehicles will hit the roads on Sunday, which is likely to cause more accidents
Police issued a blunt road-safety warning to motorists as the country gears up for the start of the new school year.
Thousands of extra vehicles will hit the roads on Sunday as parents across the UAE attempt to get their children to class on time. The huge increase in volume of traffic often causes major congestion as well as a rise in the number of accidents.
Authorities said patrolling officers would be on hand to target those who ignore road safety and put lives in danger.
“Children are particularly at risk as they’re driven to school on Sunday,” said Maj Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, assistant chief of Dubai Police.
“That’s why we’re launching this road-safety campaign. We want to reach out to schools, bus drivers and parents to spread awareness about the type of bad driving that causes accidents.”
Across the Emirates on Sunday, more than half a million children will begin the new school year. In Dubai, about 280,000 pupils of 182 nationalities will be dropped off at the school gates of almost 200 schools, while in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, a further 241,000 children will make their way to class.
To police such a busy period, Maj Gen Al Zafeen said more officers would be drafted in to monitor road networks.
He urged parent drivers to be more aware of pedestrian crossings outside schools, and not to let young children sit in the front passenger seat of cars.
He also announced a ban on the use of minibuses to take children to school, citing concerns over their safety records.
“Minibuses have long been an issue because of their low safety standards,” he said.
“Parents must take responsibility on Sunday and avoid parking outside congested school entrances making it difficult to see pedestrians. This is... highly important for children’s safety.”
Maj Gen Al Zafeen outlined efforts to improve the road-safety record of school buses.
He also said the number of tickets issued last year to motorists for unsafe driving in school zones was far too high, as was the number of instances of young children sitting in the front passenger seat.
Federal Traffic Council figures showed 473 school bus drivers were fined for ignoring stop signs last year. A further 87 were reported for failing to use the stop-sign indicator on the sides of their vehicles to alert other motorists, and more than 2,600 fines were issued to drivers with children in the front seat.
As authorities unveiled plans to improve road safety, parents of schoolchildren in Sharjah said they were dreading the school run, because of roadworks in the Muwaileh area.
They said ongoing construction work combined with the first day of term would inevitably lead to tailbacks, gridlock and long delays.
One exit on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, which leads to schools in Sharjah’s industrial area 13, has been closed to traffic. Another, on Al Dhaid Road, has also been shut.
“When schools start, the delays caused by road closures can become intolerable,” said one mother, Jumana Ala.
Shireen Younis, a mother of three, said that the closure of the exit at Al Dhaid had confused her recently, leaving her completely lost.
“I followed the detour, but shortly after no signs were available, and I found myself somewhere I didn’t know,” she said. “I had to turn on the satnav to find an alternative route.”