UAE: Leave early, send children in school buses, experts suggest

Dubai - Traffic snarls back as in-person classes begin

With students physically returning to schools in large numbers, traffic snarls are also back across Dubai and the UAE.

Massive tailbacks have been reported near schools as parents drop off or pick up their children in vehicles.

And with Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announcing that schools will return to full in-person learning from October 3, there is likely to be a big increase in traffic.

Alison Baldwin, manager of school operations, GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis, said the best way around this problem is urging children to use school buses.

“The percentage of students travelling by school bus is still lower than it used to be, thus leading to a higher number of cars on the roads near schools for drop-off and pick up of students. Also, this past year, families have been anxious about carpooling with friends and neighbours due to the pandemic, which has also led to a higher number of journeys being made,” revealed Alison.

“We are working with our school transport team to reassure our parents, especially those who used the bus pre-Covid, of the safety measures taken on our buses, to encourage them to once more opt for the school bus. Over the coming weeks, we expect to see more carpooling, and hopefully also parents opting for the school bus service,” she added.

Nav Iqbal, principal/CEO, GEMS Metropole School – The Villa, said schools could also ponder staggered starts.

“My advice to any school community would be to carefully understand the root causes of any congestion, so that suitable solutions can be found. These could include staggered starts, longer drop-off times and scheduling start times so they do not overlap with those of neighbouring schools,” said Iqbal, whose school does not have staggered times.

“We do allow around 45 minutes in the morning for parents to drop off their children, and the same duration applies at pick-up. We also open several school gates, which allow parents to park safely around school for both pick-up and drop-off. Relative to the large size of our school, this has been seamless, though I am the first to admit that we can always improve,” he added.

Sangita Chima, principal of Amity School in Dubai, said that a difference in timings helps. “School timings in our school zone vary so as to reduce congestion during peak traffic hours. We commence school at 7.30am while other schools start at 7.40am. We also use multiple entry/exit gates for students who come by their own transport,” said Sangita.

Alison suggested other measures to ease the traffic logjam.

“Staggered start and finish times seem like the logical solution, but with so many siblings in schools, this would be difficult to coordinate, and it would make it harder for teachers to have an impactful start. And at the end of the day, students were all coming and going at different times.

“There is, therefore, a limit to what a school can do; solutions also lie with the local infrastructure. Enhanced signposting on roads surrounding schools can help to divert non-school traffic via other routes at key times. This would also help school traffic to clear quicker,” felt Alison.

She also had a piece of advice for parents.

“If using the bus is not an option, and you live too far from school for your child to walk or cycle, try and carpool to reduce the number of trips you have to make. When on the school run, allow yourself enough time to arrive at school safely, and be patient with other parents who are facing the same challenges."

"In addition, there is no harm in a short walk, if you can find a quieter road with better parking that is a five-minute walk from school, don’t waste your time trying to get as close to the school door as possible. Instead, stretch your legs and enjoy the walk and time to chat with your child about their day,” she said.

james@khaleejtimes.com