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Here is what it takes to ensure a safe trip this academic year

Dubai/Sharjah - People should take preventive measures to avoid accidents or when there is a traffic jam due to minor accidents near schools

dubai/sharjah - The traffic departments of Dubai and Sharjah Police have asked parents, bus drivers and motorists to abide by speed limits and traffic regulations near the schools.
Colonel Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of the General Department of Traffic at the Dubai Police, said motorists should slow down and be careful while they pass through the roads close to the schools.
"People should take preventive measures to avoid accidents or when there is a traffic jam due to minor accidents near schools. To avoid accidents, drivers should leave enough space between vehicles and refrain from tailgating," he said, adding that parents should accompany their children when they get in to or come out of school buses. Children should not be allowed to cross the road themselves.
He added that students should be educated on how to get into the bus. "They are supposed to stay at least 19 steps away from the bus and should stand in queues to get into the bus. Children should not create chaos at the bus stop so that the driver doesn't get distracted.
"The traffic department has trained security officials at schools so that they will do the same job of policemen, including organising the traffic movement at schools, ensuring that the students entered and left safely. Some students were also trained to oragnise traffic and ensure safety," said the officer, urging people to cooperate with them.
The traffic department has conducted awareness programmes to train bus drivers about the preventive measures and traffic law to protect children. Col. Al Mazroui stated that schools were told to allocate separate gates for buses and private cars as it would help parents drop their children safely at the school, avoiding traffic congestion inside the campus. As part of awareness programmes throughout the year, the traffic department has designed traffic villages in a number of schools which include signals, junctions and driving instructions to educate the students about traffic culture and laws.
Preparations in Sharjah
The Sharjah Police have completed all preparations to ensure student safety before the new academic year, said Colonel Abdullah Mubark bin Amir, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Sharjah Police.
He reviewed the steps taken by various police departments before the school reopening to ensure that the students will be transported safely. The preparations would make sure that traffic on all Sharjah roads is smooth and not affected by the movement of school buses in the first day.
He stressed the importance of coordination between various government authorities to ensure that there are no accidents during the academic year.
"The police will ensure the safety of schools through the school security unit, which is affiliated to Amiri Guard. Better coordination bet-ween the school security units and security guards at the University City of Sharjah is also ensured to protect the safety of the schools and students," he said.
The Sharjah Police have rev-iewed various social initiatives including the Khalifa Programme, to evaluate the traffic movements and take necessary action to intensify police patrols to prevent congestions on Sharjah roads.
Safety first: Some tips for the road
Motorists:

• Slow down and be careful when passing through school areas
• Abide by speed limits and traffic regulations
• Avoid tailgating: Stop the vehicle at zebra crossings to let the children cross the roads safely

• Accompany your children to the bus stop when they get into or come out of the school bus
• Let children less than 12 sit in the back seat of the car and make sure that they have the seatbelts fastened
• Drop the children at the designated spots inside the school
• Listen to the security officers at the schools
• Stand in queues to get into and come out of the school buses
• Don't cross the road alone and make sure you use the zebra crossings

• Stand in queues to get into and come out of the school buses
• Don't cross the road alone and make sure you use the zebra crossings