Children going back to school? Here’s what UAE parents should do

Indian High School Dubai students arrive at school on the first day after reopening. - Photo by Shihab

It's back to school and the usual scenes of frantic traffic around schools during drop-off and pick-up times are back again.
A mix of time pressure, dense vehicle traffic, including private vehicles and school buses, plus increased pedestrian flow makes the traffic around schools very challenging, according to Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE.
The morning rush coupled with road accidents cause bumper-to-bumper traffic on major Dubai and Sharjah roads like on Tuesday morning, when multiple accidents were reported across the two cities at around 8 am.
"But the biggest contributor to congestion are parents trying to drop off their kids on time, often very close to the school starting time, as well as picking up students right after school finishes," Edelmann told Khaleej Times.
"There is also the lack of motorists' education regarding school buses, despite the fact that the buses are equipped with stop-signs and warning lights which get deployed when they stop to allow students to embark or disembark. Many motorists ignore those, resulting in dangerous situations," he underlined.
School buses are not actually to blame for the heavy morning traffic. According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), school bus trips account for only 13 per cent of the total volume of trips during the morning rush hours in Dubai.
The school transport sector in Dubai faces multiple challenges, including the "geographical distribution of schools," said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of RTA, in a previous statement.
"Challenges also include the low percentage of school bus users, as reflected in its 11 per cent share of total schools trips, compared to 32 per cent in the United States.
This means that 88 per cent of students in Dubai use private vehicles to get to school, increasing congestion and environmental pollution. This is aggravated by the low occupancy rate of school buses - 53 per cent on average," added Al Tayer.
Another important thing to look at is that students using mass transport means is still limited - at just one per cent of the total number of mass transit users.
This has prompted the RTA to conduct a comprehensive study for managing the demand on transport, including coming up with solutions and guidelines related to the distribution of schools and their integration with the road networks. The RTA is also currently studying flexible working hours and staggering the working hours and school hours.
Road safety is of strategic importance to the education sector. Kids need to be transported safely to and from school, but also be properly educated about road safety themselves.
Here are tips from RoadSafetyUAE to keep children safe and to nurture the 'next generation' of responsible traffic participants.
How to do it right - around schools
* Typically, there's a lot traffic around schools especially in the mornings and early afternoons. Be extra alert and careful when you are driving close to schools
* Watch out for extra traffic guidance and follow directions of the school staff, traffic guides or police
* Drivers dropping or collecting kids must not obstruct traffic
* Be considerate to other motorists, just like you would want to receive consideration!
* Park your vehicle safely and even a few steps away from the school - walking a few extra steps is good exercise for you and the kids
* Don't park in non-dedicated areas or in the second lane
* If you have improvement proposals for your school, engage with the school administration to articulate those
How to do it right - around school buses
* Be extra careful when you ARE around a school bus
* Obey the yellow warning sign and flashing red lights engaged by school buses when they stop to allow students to get on or off
* You must stop to allow safe passage for students
* Be aware of students popping up in front or at the back of the bus wanting to cross the street
* Mind the students crossing the street to reach the bus
* Watch your speed and be ready to brake anytime
* On the roads, be polite and give way to school buses; do no cut in front of them and show a caring attitude for the kids
Safety for children - in & out of the school bus
* Pick-Up/Drop-Off: When approaching the pick-up point of your school bus, cross the roads safely. The same is true at drop-off. Never run to or from the bus, but just walk normally
* Outside the bus: Don't stand in the danger zone (Note: if a child can touch the bus, he or she is too close!)
* Take your seat promptly, buckle up and sit properly, facing forward at all times
* On the move: Keep the aisles clear at all times. Always keep your head, hands and arms inside the bus. Remain in the seat until the bus comes to a complete stop
* Listen and obey: Always listen to the bus driver's and attendants' directions
Source: RoadSafetyUAE
angel@khaleejtimes.com