New Regulations Announced for Abu Dhabi School Buses
A raft of new regulations have been introduced by the authorities in Abu Dhabi to ensure increased safety of children on school buses. These include mandatory seat belts on all 6,000 buses, medical tests for drivers who must also attend training courses on pupil safety as well as the installation of CCTV and speeding cameras near schools.
“We are giving school bus operators up to two years to comply with the new set of regulations,” said Brig Al Harthi, also the chairman of the School Transport Executive Committee.
“Maintaining the safety, comfort and sustainability of school transport is the joint responsibility of the government, the community and private stakeholders.”
The Emirates Driving Company, based in Mussaffah, will be responsible for training bus drivers and attendants on key responsibilities such as defensive driving, traffic safety, daily inspection of buses, and safe boarding and disembarking.
School bus companies will be required to pay the 750 dhs medical fee for each driver. The medical must be re-taken every two years.
The regulations come in response to the death of Nizaha Aalaa, a three year old girl, who was left on a bus on October 7 last year. She was in her first month at Al Worood Academy, a school which will close at the end of this academic year.
