Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is weighing in with its expertise to make school buses safe and secure.
At least 151,000 pupils, which is roughly 60 per cent of the total number of pupils in the emirate, avail of school buses and the RTA’s resolve to introduce 50 school buses fitted with security features like environment-friendly engines, WiFi, Geographic Information System mapping and surveillance cameras is appreciated.
Onus is now on private school bus operators to match the safety commitment stipulated by the regulator
The fact that the RTA will also endorse school buses to be road worthy, after they have gone through the necessary security checks, illustrates that finally a significant portion of accountability, which was missing from private bus operators, is now being exhibited. The onus will now be on private operators to match this commitment.
By increasing the number of RTA-approved buses to 650 by 2024, the organisation’s efforts will set the bar for the 4,000 buses that are currently operational in Dubai. Providing safe and smooth transport for students also means ensuring that the service is of a high quality. Parents invest huge sums of money into this facility and operators are therefore obligated to ensure the safety of the children.
