• Home
• /
• Education

Over 1,000 school buses modified

The School Transportation Committee in Abu Dhabi, announced on Wednesday that more than 1,000 school buses (both newly bought and modified) are now operating as per the standards of school bus regulations unveiled by the Department of Transport (DoT) in May this year with an aim to boost the level of safety, security and convenience for students in their daily transportation to and from schools.

According to the committee, which has members from the DoT, the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police, and Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), the modifications on the bus exterior included yellow painting to distinguish school buses from other vehicles; installation of warning signs on top and bottom of the bus with ‘School Bus’ in both Arabic and English on the exterior of the bus; and fixing the bus number and phone number of the operator.

Interior modifications ensure that buses do not have sharp ends and seats are upholstered with soft, fire-resistant and shock-absorbing materials. Besides, seats cannot be folded, interior corridors will have no hindrances, and sharp ends will be covered with non-inflammable and anti-skidding layer.

The regulations stipulate that buses are equipped with fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, emergency reflexive triangle, an alarm voice system operating when the bus reverses as well as mirrors to allow the bus driver a complete vision from his seat of both sides, the bus doors and vehicles coming from the opposite side.

Other standards include emergency exits, GPS to follow the bus and record its speed, cameras, and CCTV. To ensure greatest level of safety, the door of the bus must be controlled by the driver and should be shut while driving but can be opened from inside and outside in emergencies.