New drive to ensure child safety on roads

Students walking to class on school reopening day in September. - Photo By Ryan Lim

Various entities dealing with traffic management in Dubai have warned of the grave risk posed by motorists to schoolchildren's safety, by driving errors and other violations.
Key among these are dropping off children to cross the road by themselves, packing too many children into a single car, and leaving children unmonitored inside vehicles.
The Federal Traffic Council (FTC) on Wednesday launched a campaign during the visit of Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, on the occasion of schools' reopening. The safety campaign, under the theme 'Student Safety Amanah', was launched in the presence of the directors of various police departments and police stations in Dubai, Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police officials, campaign sponsors and the media.
Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, assistant commander-in-chief of Dubai Police Operations and FTC chairman, said: "There are procedures for the first time a violation is committed, including the issuance of fine of Dh1,000 and 10 black points for each driver of a vehicle who does not adhere to school bus stop signs.
"The school bus driver who does not use the signal will also be issued fine of Dh500 and six black points." If road users fail to adhere to the school bus stop sign and admit to the violation, he/she will be immediately fined.
"The more serious violations involving school areas, school bus and children's safety will be fined and dealt with from the second month onwards," said Maj.-Gen. Al Zafeen pointing out that for the first time, bus drivers will be allowed to record the number plates of cars who do not follow the rules, so that action can be taken against them.
Brigadier-General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, director of the Dubai Traffic department at Dubai Police, said the traffic measures and awareness campaigns, launched at the opening of the new school year, will be extended throughout the year.
amira@khaleejtimes.com
What is Amanah campaign?
The student traffic safety campaign, Amanah, aims at rooting the traffic culture through awareness lectures at educational institutions, and by using advanced modern technology, in addition to social media. Besides educational workshops for both parents and education institutions, it also involves practical and theoretical training for students on traffic signs and rules through miniature road and town models. The scale models depict traffic lights and signals, intersections and designated pedestrian crossing points and communities, designed to increase children's sense of movement and awareness of their surroundings.

Amira Agarib

amira@khaleejtimes.com