Dubai bus safety: New rules, old habits

Dubai : "All the buses are yellow. I cannot tell which is my bus," laments eight-year-old Tina as she waits for her school bus at Bur Dubai in the mornings.

Sunita, a resident of Karama, whose son studies at Cambridge High School, said, "We have missed our bus on two or three occasions as all the buses look alike and the schools' names are hidden on the side."

The uniformity in the colour of school buses may be in keeping with the Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) new school transport rules but whether the move, among other measures, is adequate to ensure the "safe and smooth mobility" of students appears to be a subject of debate.

Random survey

A random survey conducted by XPRESS has found that the host of changes introduced in the buses in recent months is being viewed as largely cosmetic as there remains a sense of ambiguity on key safety parameters and the issue of responsibility when it comes to their implementation.

To begin with, students openly claim that they do not fasten their seat belts on the school bus. One student of Class XII of the Dubai Modern High School, not wanting to be named, said, "I never use the seat belt and neither do my friends."

Merolyn Dominic, whose five-year-old son is a Grade 1 student at a school in Garhoud, said, "More than two children are made to sit on one seat in the bus that my son commutes. So where is the question of using the seat belt?"

There are concerns even over the electronic stop arms that are to be activated every time the bus makes a scheduled halt, with some saying they are activated only if the child getting in or out of the bus has to cross the road, while others say there is no need for it if the child is getting off on the same side as the destination.

The confusion over such basic safety criteria has raised several questions over what the rules actually say and who is responsible for their implementation.

Mohammad Abu Baqer Al Hashemi, Director of Planning and Business Development of the Public Transport Agency at the RTA, said, "As per the school transport manual, it is mandatory to fasten seat belts on the opening area seat (near the doors) only. It is the responsibility of the school driver and supervisor to make sure that the seat belts are fastened."

Without giving details, he said the violations that the RTA has detected so far could be categorised under two heads - namely, bus drivers plying without a school bus driving permit and non-compliance of RTA's external and internal specifications.

When asked who bears the responsibility for the child's safe travel, he said, "All parties concerned, as per the school transport manual."

Mohammad Darwish, Chief of Regulation and Compliance Commission at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), said, "The onus of safely transporting children lies with the school management. The school must follow the guidelines set out by both RTA and the education authority. Both RTA and KHDA trust the schools to follow their guidelines."

"In addition, RTA has also issued an awareness booklet ‘School Transport - Students and Parents Responsibilities' in an attempt to make parents aware that some basic responsibility also lies with them," he said.

Darwish said, "The KHDA has received a few complaints related to technical and safety requirements which have been forwarded to RTA. Since RTA as a government authority is already taking action, there is no need for a duplication of efforts from KHDA."

Schools respond

Meanwhile, GEMS Education, the largest private school operator with more than 26 schools in the UAE, responding to a query by XPRESS said, "As GEMS does not provide transport to its students, it would be best if you contacted [outsourced provider] School Transport Services (STS)."

M.L. Augustine, Managing Director of STS, said, "STS, which provides transport to 24 schools in Dubai, has not come across any violation by bus drivers or conductors so far. It is mainly because they are being trained well to do their job."

He said, "According to RTA specifications, all buses should be equipped with electronic stop arms on the external side. This comes out electronically as and when the bus stops. We adhere to the RTA regulations."

"According to the specifications, only the exposed seats (seats in the front and rear) need to have seat belts. However, our buses have belts on all seats and we encourage students to wear them. In fact, all our buses have the ‘Be Safe, Buckle Up' signage," he said.

However, children pay scant attention to such appeals and notices and parents seldom take up the matter with transport providers or school managements. "Under the circumstances, there is an assumption that all is well until something actually goes wrong," said one parent.

The father of a Class X student of Delhi Private School suggested that buses should pay more attention to details.

Currently, the rules stipulate that the words ‘School Bus' are displayed on the front, rear and sides of the bus while the school name is to be shown on the side within an area not exceeding 1,500 sq cm. The bus number, which is carried at the rear of the highest point of the right side and at the front of the highest point of the left side, is also not prominent, he added. However, RTA's Al Hashemi said, "The schools are also allowed to write the school name on a paper or plastic and place it on the dashboard."

There is also the issue of high transport fees. Dominic said she is paying a sum of Dh500 for the bus every month, but three children were being made to sit on one seat.

At the German International School, Gabriele Bergunde, Head of Administration, said the school which used to outsource its transport has decided to get its own buses. It received its first fleet of seven buses (Mercedes Sprinters) on October 26, where seats are equipped with three-point belts, with the driver's seat and the outer co-driver's seat fitted with belt tensioners that allow them to check if the children are belted.
 

THE BOOKLET

The Roads and Transport Authority has published this booklet (pictured right) to serve as a guide for custodians of students explaining to them the different stipulations and requirements for school buses

1 Colour: Yellow, Grade: (RAK 1018 ZINK GELB GL841)

2 "School Bus" to be written in both Arabic and English at both sides as well as the front and rear side

3 Buses to be fitted with an electronic stop rod, with two light indicators that are switched on when the bus stops

4 Light indicator system that starts operating when bus stops

5 "School Bus" sign on the front and rear of the bus

6 Mirror systems displaying all sides of the bus

7 Remove all foldable seats

8 Remove armrests, ashtrays, arm support and any solid tools on the back side of the seat

9 First aid kit

10 Provision of seatbelts for open seats

11 Bus number to be displayed at the rear of the highest point of the right side, and the front of the highest point of the left side

12 Emergency exits from both sides of the bus

13 At least one guide to be deployed in every bus boarded by students of less than 12 years of age

14. A fire extinguisher to be provided inside passengers' cabin, of a size compatible with the length of the bus

15 The name of the school or operating company to be written in the designated place within an area not exceeding 1500 sq cm

THE RULES

We highlight some specifications from the booklet like the larger font for SCHOOL BUS, the inconspicuous bus numbers, the fastening of seat belts etc.

Did you know?

the rules stipulate that the words ‘School Bus' are displayed on the front, rear and sides of the bus while the school name is to be shown on the side of the bus