Abu Dhabi: Roads around all Abu Dhabi schools will be declared special school zones by September 2015, limiting traffic speed to 30 km/h.
“More than 200 schools will be covered in this initiative to create special school zones that will improve the traffic safety of students as well as parents,” Majid Al Khateri, Head of Traffic Services at the municipality’s Department of Municipal Affairs, told XPRESS.
Al Khateri said around 40 school zones have already been created within the city and in the islands, and work is in progress to cover the rest of the schools.
“The roads will be clearly marked with signs warning motorists that they are entering school zones. The speed limit in the zones is limited to 30 km/h and there will be clear signs to indicate the speed limits,” said Al Khateri.
Government initiative
The project is undertaken by the Special Safety and Traffic Solution Committee that consists of government departments including the Municipality, Urban Planning Council, Department of Transport and Traffic Police.
Roads in these zones will be painted with ‘school zone’ signs and pedestrian crossings will have special speed tables to reduce risk of traffic accidents.
The official also said all school zones are required to have special pick-up and drop-off zones for both parents and school buses as well.
“Our aim is to improve the safety of students and parents and hopefully by September 2015, all school areas will be declared school zones,” added Al Khateri.
Many parents have appreciated the move, saying students are at risk as traffic snarls are common in front of many schools.
“It’s high time authorities address this issue as many school areas are accident-prone.
“Roads get congested with private vehicles dropping off kids in the morning and it is a mess with vehicles honking and students and parents crossing the roads randomly,” said Abhishek Narayan, a parent of Abu Dhabi Indian School.
The school district in Mohammad Bin Zayed City in Mussafah is a traffic nightmare in the morning and afternoon, complain many parents.
‘With so many schools in the same area, there are hundreds and thousands of vehicles and entering and leaving these schools at the same time.
“What makes it worse is the presence of trucks on the roads,” complained Kaplana Rajesh, another parent who suggested trucks should be banned from entering the school district during the morning and afternoon hours.
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