Dubai: As schools gear up to start the new academic year, Dubai Police urged motorists to be extra cautious while driving in school zones.
Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of Dubai Traffic Police, called on bus drivers and parents to slow down and be careful when entering and exiting school zones.
“We are urging people to be careful as a precaution and focus on protecting the children, especially from run-over incidents,” he said calling on drivers to be extra vigilant around schools, hospitals, and residential areas and to always maintain safe distance between vehicles.
Brig. Al Mazroui also advised parents to accompany children when they embark or disembark from school buses and when they cross roads.
“All children under the age of 10 should sit in the back seats of the vehicles and stop the vehicle near the pedestrian crossing so they can cross safely, but not too close that it blocks the area. Vehicles should also park at least 10 steps away from the bus zone,” he said.
Brig. Al Mazroui said that police patrol units had been specially trained to ensure smooth traffic flow, especially in front of school entrances, ensuring that children could enter and exit safely.
He added that the traffic department had conducted lectures to raise awareness about safety aspects among school bus drivers, stressing that discussions focused on the importance of abiding by speed limits.
“Schools were urged to provide separate entrances, one for buses and one for private vehicles, to make sure the children are out of harm’s way and traffic is not obstructed,” Brig. Al Mazroui said, adding that Dubai Police have and will continue to launch campaigns to raise traffic safety awareness among schoolchildren.
