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Leave 5m gap when you halt behind school bus stop sign in UAE

Abu Dhabi - Those who fail to stop will be fined Dh1,000.

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The Abu Dhabi Police on Sunday warned motorists to leave a gap of at least five metres when they stop at a school bus stop sign.

"Make sure you stop 5 metres on both sides with when the stop sign arm is extended on the side of the school bus (sic)," the police said in a tweet.

The Abu Dhabi Police is planning to install cameras on all school buses in the emirate to catch motorists ignoring the stop signs. All 7,000 school buses operating in Abu Dhabi will be fitted with the cameras, the police said.

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"The project will be done in phases," Abdullah Al Ghafeli, head of traffic studies at the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate, told Khaleej Times last week on the sidelines of a Press conference to launch a year-long traffic safety awareness campaign. "Overtaking a bus when the stop sign arm is extended is illegal as the sign indicates that students are boarding or getting off the bus."

The police had earlier reported that 3,664 motorists were fined in Abu Dhabi for committing this violation in the 2018-19 academic year. The errant drivers are slapped with a Dh1,000 fine and 10 black points. Authorities also recorded 126 violations against school bus drivers who didn't display the signs when picking up or dropping off students. The penalty for this violation is Dh500 and six black points.

"The safety of students is a top priority for us and we are doing everything possible to boost it," said Ghafeli. "All motorists should adhere to the UAE traffic law."

With inputs from Ismail Sebugwaawo

• Abu Dhabi