RTA steps up school bus inspections
1,642 school buses have been fined since the beginning of 2017-2018 academic year
In a crackdown against school transport violations, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has fined 1,642 school buses since the beginning of the 2017-2018 academic year. A senior RTA official told
Gulf News that most of the violations ranged from noncompliance with the seating arrangements as well as other technical specifications.
“We have an integrated annual inspection programme and we monitor the transport operations very closely, since safety of students is a top priority for us,” said Mohammad Al Hashemi, director, Planning and Business Development, RTA’s Public Transport Agency that regulates and monitors school transport operations.
He added that since RTA clamped down heavily on any violations regarding the specifications and maintenance of school buses, the number of violations has declined.
“Most of the violations we came across during our recent inspection campaign were regarding seating arrangements as well as internal and external technical specifications. There is still repetition of the same offences but the number is declining,” he said.
The RTA’s Public Transport Agency issues permits for the operation of school transport services. The agency also trains, tests and issues permits to the drivers and supervisors of school buses.
“We train the drivers and supervisors and issue permits to them. We also frequently carry out inspections to monitor violations of drivers and supervisors, covering both behavioural and traffic issues,” he added.
Currently, according to RTA statistics, 6,093 school bus drivers and 5,750 supervisors work in Dubai.
Zero fatalities
According Al Hashemi, RTA’s stringent measures have resulted in zero fatalities involving school buses since 2015.
“There has been only one minor accident involving a school bus in the last three years and there have been no fatalities involving school buses since 2015,” Al Hashemi informed.
Last year, the RTA updated school transport regulations that issued the new 3+2 seating specifications, made GPS tracking system mandatory on all school buses as well as banning window curtains.
Al Hashemi said that though installation of surveillance cameras in school buses is not compulsory in Dubai, “it is optional for school bus operators and is encouraged by RTA.”
However, he added there is currently no central control room to monitor school buses and private operators monitor the activities of their buses on their own.
In 2017, the authorities also
banned overtaking of a school bus when it is dropping off or picking up a student.
The fine for overtaking a school bus is Dh1,000 and 10 black points.
Dubai Police and Emirates Transport recently announced that a ‘Bat’ radar will be introduced on school buses to stop motorists who ignore the signal when bus drivers pick up and drop off students.
Unified federal standards
Al Hashemi said the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport has formed a team at the federal level to issue the unified guidelines for school transport. The team will soon issue unified regulations and specifications for all school buses across the country.
“Children’s safety being the prime objective, the guidelines for school transportation are reviewed regularly and updated with the new requirements pertaining to safety and technology aspect,” said Al Hashemi.
Dh1,000 is the fine for overtaking a school bus when it stops