The safety of children as they come and go from school must be a priority. This means safer roads and careful driving. And as The National reported yesterday, concerned parents and safety experts say that this can only happen with better enforcement of the rules of the road in school zones. The simple, sad fact is that children's lives are put at risk by speeding drivers.
Addressing the issue will require a range of measures. In Abu Dhabi, there are already plans to install more elevated crossings and speed bumps and to apply red surface-markings on roads near schools. This is a good idea as is the Schools Traffic Safety initiative for a clearer system of road signage and the provision of improved pickup and drop-off points for school buses. But are these measures enough?
Even though the UAE follows the international 30kph standard speed limit in school zones, the rule is not properly enforced due to the lack of cameras and insufficient police presence. An associate vice president for transport systems with Iteris, Glenn Havinoviski, even argues that the existing limit is too high, especially on narrower streets where there are several crossings and reduced pavement space, increasing the potential for accidents.
While improving the infrastructure and addressing speed limits is important, schools themselves could be more proactive by providing crossing patrols.
These could involve staff, older pupils, parents or people from the wider school community acting as “lollipop” men and women, holding up lollipop-shaped signs that remind motorists to slow down around schools and to come to a full stop as children cross the road. These programmes have been implemented successfully in other parts of the world and are worth considering. And of course, all of us need to do our bit by being extra vigilant when driving in school zones. The safety of children is simply not negotiable.
