ABU DHABI // School bus drivers are being given extra training on dealing with emergencies after a serious accident last month.
Forty-seven people, many of them children, were injured in the crash involving two school buses and a public transport bus on Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street.
The school buses involved in the crash were opeated by Al Dhafra Private School and Belvedere British School in Mohammed bin Zayed City, not Emirates Transport.
Thousands of Emirates Transport’s school bus drivers have been given training to respond to such incidents in an effort to enhance traffic safety.
The curriculum covers dealing with emergencies and accidents, techniques on safe evacuation of the bus, identifying possible evacuation routes, and ensuring passenger safety, according to Abdullah Al Madhani, the manager of the Emirates Transport training centre.
Emirates Transport, which serves public and private schools, employs 5,072 bus drivers across the country. Of those, 175 were hired in time for the current academic year.
Road safety experts welcomed the course.
“I would hope no driver sets out on the road before the training is complete,” said Judith Finnemore, of Focal Point Management Consultancy.
“I would not like to think of any child, or adult for that matter, setting out on a bus journey with only part of the training completed. If it takes three months intensive theory plus practise under the supervision of properly qualified instructors, followed by a very exacting practical examination that has zero tolerance of any misapplication of the learning from the intensive course, I would say it’s worth it.”
After the crash last month, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, stressed the importance of school transport safety.
“The relevant authorities are required to put in place an efficient mechanism to ensure the safety and security of schoolchildren and motorists, and prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents,” he said.
After an initial investigation, police blamed driver inattention, speeding and tailgating for the three-bus crash.
Thomas Edelmann, founder of Road Safety UAE, also welcomed the extra training for drivers.
“Only selected, qualified, tested and well-trained drivers should be behind the wheel. School bus operators and bus fleet operators invest a lot of money and effort in trying to -establish and maintain high safety levels for their buses and their drivers,” he said.
Drivers should undergo a stringent selection process, a detailed assessment of their qualification and driving history, a thorough test of their driving and psychological abilities, and a comprehensive and continuing training regime, he said.
rruiz@thenational.ae
*This article has been amended to clarify that the buses involved in the crash on Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street were not operated by Emirates Transport.
