New safety regulations for school buses

Dubai: School buses in Dubai will have to undergo a complete make-over to meet new safety regulations drawn up by the Roads and Transport Authority.

The RTA has given schools and transport companies six months to implement changes to the exterior and interior specifications of buses.

The new rules and regulations governing school transport was announced by the RTA at a press conference yesterday at Zayed University.

Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dossary, CEO of the Public Transport Agency of the RTA said: "The RTA seeks to achieve a number of objectives to support the School Transport Scheme, through effective participation, upgrading services rendered by the Public Transport Agency to schools, and ensuring safe and smooth mobility for all students in the emirate of Dubai."

"Such objectives will be achieved by applying internationally accredited safety standards and specifications to all school buses in the emirate, drawing up policies and procedures streamlining school bus services, and planning and implementing measures designed to ensure the efficiency and reliability of school transport services."

Under the new system, all school buses should be painted yellow and windows should be tinted at 50 per cent or supplied with blinds. All the buses should be equipped with an electronic flashers to alert other drivers when the bus stops.

On the inside additional foldable seats have been banned, as have solid materials on the back side of seats such as for ashtrays and side hand rests.

School buses should not exceed the speed limit of 80km/h and this should be regulated by installing a speed control system.

In addition to the said regulations, all buses manufactured after 2008 should have seats with at least 71cm-high backs, shock absorbing and fireproof seat pads, emergency exits, electronic external mirrors, anti-lock brake systems, electronic fire extinguishing systems and electronically operated doors.

A School Transport Manual has been drawn up and distributed to concerned parties as ready reference for the School Transport Scheme. The manual details the responsibilities of school managements, operators, drivers and students as well as their guardians.

The manual, published in Arabic and English, also covers offences and fines, procedures for registering a school bus and licensing bus drivers.

School bus drivers should attend a two-day training session at the Drivers Training and Qualification Office at the Public Transport Agency at Al Aweer, followed by an exam.

Successful candidates will be issued with school bus driving licenses.

The meeting was also attended by Mohammad Darwish, executive president for Licensing and Customer Relations at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, and representatives of companies operating school transport, bus suppliers and principals of public and private schools in the emirate of Dubai.

Costs kept in check

School transportation charges will soon be regulated by a new law, Gulf News has learnt.

A senior official at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai said a proposal is in the pipeline to introduce a cap on transportation fee for school children.

Without revealing details of the law, the official said: "There will soon be a new law to control the transportation fee for school children. It has to come from the Executive Council. Either there will be a cap on transportation fee hikes, or there will be a fixed charge," said the official on condition of anonymity.

He said the move is to discourage parents from using private vehicles to drop off children at school to avoid the increasing cost of transportation.

"The new law, once implemented will ease the financial burden on parents. Likewise, the new safety regulations set by the RTA for school buses will also ensure the safety of children, thus encouraging parents to send their wards in school buses. The end result will be less congestion on roads," said the official.

When asked whether the high cost in implementing the safety regulations will be passed on to parents by transportation companies, the official said the new law will ensure that parents will not be penalised.

However, transportation companies said revamping buses will definitely send fees through the roof.

"We operate over 600 buses. To repaint them all yellow will cost us a great deal, in addition to changing all the specifications including emergency exits, electronic doors, flashers and more," said Col M.L. Augustine (retired), Managing Director of School Transport Services LLC.

Augustine said the cost of a bus will practically double if they have to meet the stipulated changes.

Do you welcome these new requirements for school buses? Or will it only be an added expenditure to your monthly budget? What other safety requirements should be introduced in school buses to reduce the risk of accidents? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form bellow to send your comments.

Issuing rules is not the big thing, the most important thing is to keep the check and balances on these rules and punish people severely if they failed to comply with these safety rules.
Usman
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 28, 2008, 08:52

Good move. I'd be interested in seeing the monitoring plans and frequent and "routine" inspection of such buses and also direct contacts for parents to report any non-compliance to RTA. I suggest fixes price rather than controlled hike scheme.
Karkain
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 28, 2008, 08:08

Good work by RTA, really it makes parents feel safe to send their children in the school bus, this is one way to reduce the traffic, RTA should make a strict rule that all children should be droped by parents on regular basis.
Lenin
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: August 28, 2008, 07:54

welcome move from RTA. However they have to make sure that transport companies doesnt charge parents for implementing the sugestions. Other emirates also should follow these recomendations.
Abdul
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: August 28, 2008, 07:53

As a father I am really happy for hearing this news, however I think that at least two supervisors must be available on KG-GRAD4 BUSES and one supervisor is found from grade5 and more.Also direct hot telephone number shoud be announced that we can keep in touch with RTA.In addition, I thing that it will be much better if the RTA comitted to providing buses for all schools in Dubai.
ALI
DUBAI,UAE
Posted: August 28, 2008, 07:44

But are we not missing the main point - SAFETY. Not in the bus, but out of the bus. I see kids being dropped off on busy roads to cross by themselves. What are the school authorities going to do about it? No matter what cap comes on the fees I will for sure drop my kids to school cause to me their safety is more important.
Emma
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 28, 2008, 01:34

A very good move by RTA. This was long awaited. Most of the school buses in Dubai have not been up to the safety standards. The new rules will sure ensure safety. I hope this is implemented as soon as possible.
Karan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 28, 2008, 01:20