DUBAI // Officials have hailed a law to protect children being transported by bus to school.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said there were no reported fatalities on school buses in 2014, despite the number of students being transported by bus increasing by 14 per cent between 2011 and 2014.
Adel Mohammed Shakri, director of planning and business development at the RTA’s Public Transport Agency, said the result was down to introduction of a School Transport Law issued by Dubai Executive Council.
“The sound implementation of the law contributed to cutting the number of accidents recorded in this sector by 10 per cent,” he said.
There has also been better cooperation between the RTA, schools, transport companies and parents, he said.
“At the top of achievements made by the school transport sector in Dubai is that the number of fatalities dropped to zero in 2014,” he said.
The number of bus drivers has increased by 36 per cent from 2011 to 2014 with the number of female bus conductors increasing by 99 per cent over the same period.
The RTA is considering introducing new technology including sensors under bus seats to alert schools if a child has been left on board.
An online education module is also being developed to provide child safety tips using cartoons.
nhanif@thenational.ae
