Traffic woes are back again

Looks like breezing through the Dubai-Sharjah roads has become a thing of the past.

Haven’t you noticed an increase in traffic lately, especially while driving to work in the morning or leaving in the evening? Traffic jams are back and the Road and Traffic Authority (RTA) has confirmed it. One of the main reasons cited is the reopening of schools.

A spokesman for the RTA said the problem is mainly caused by parents driving children to schools from different parts of the city. They create a traffic jam in specific school areas that could reach the main roads.

“Mothers, who usually stay at home, take children to school. Now imagine hundreds doing so every morning,” the spokesperson said.

Nazim Faisal, RTA’s Safety Department Manager, said that the authority cannot do anything regarding the issue. “We can’t ask the schools to shift to different timings so the time is distributed and the traffic is reduced,” he said. “We launch safety and awareness campaigns and make sure that roads are ready for buses. Otherwise, it is the Ministry of Education’s responsibility to handle the school locations and timings.” He added that the campaigns included direct points to both bus drivers and parents to comply with. They were also instructed to avoid parking in wrong places. Drivers are also required to slow down near school/bus zones. He urged drivers to make sure that children’s safety belts are fastened even during short trips.

• Transport