Most in favour of fitting school buses with seat belts

Abu Dhabi’s decision to require increased safety for youngsters met mixed response but Mohammed Hassan says it’s time.

Mohammed Hassan has worked as a school bus driver for more than 13 years and his experience has made him a loud advocate of seat belts for his young passengers. Silvia Razgova / The National

ABU DHABI // A requirement to fit all school buses with seat belts has brought mixed reactions from drivers, parents and road safety experts.

On Monday, the School Transport Executive Committee in Abu Dhabi announced regulations that included mandatory seat belts, medical tests for drivers and training courses on pupil safety.

Seat belts are the best protection in accidents, said Mohammed Hassan, 53, an Indian who has been driving a school bus for 13 years and works for Al Nahda National Schools.

“This 23-seater bus is about two to three months old and already has seat belts,” he said. “I always remind the schoolgirls to fasten their seat belts to keep them safe.”

His bus is also equipped with a GPS device and CCTV, a first aid kit, fire extinguishers and emergency hammers for breaking windows.

Shahul Hamid, a school bus driver for five years, said seat belt use would help to encourage a culture of safety among the pupils.

“I make sure every child has his seat belt on and it fits right,” he said.

All school buses must now be equipped with seat belts, with small buses using three-point belts and two-point belts in bigger buses. And they must be inspected by government authorities, said Glenn Havinoviski, a road safety expert.

Not all drivers are supportive.

Waqil Khan, a 44-year-old Pakistani driver of a 66-seat school bus, said he wore a seat belt, but the task of fastening a seat belt could be tedious for pupils.

“It will take time for children to fasten and remove them,” he said.

The latest set of regulations on school transport shows how committed Abu Dhabi is to school bus safety, said Kumar Ghopi, 36, a parent.

“I drop off and pick up my seven-year-old son since our home is near his school. Despite the death of the young girl last year, the school bus system here is generally safe.”

Nizaha Aalaa, 3, died after she was left alone on an Al Worood Academy school bus on October 7 last year.

Thomas Shyju, 43, who sends his eight-year-old son on a school bus, also welcomed the new regulations.

“Looking at the history of these Abu Dhabi buses, they have a relatively positive safety record as they’ve been involved in a few accidents,” he said. “Requiring all school buses to be fitted with seat belts is a welcome move by the Government.”

Mr Shyju said he did not mind if school bus operators, who faced additional costs with the seat belt installation and medical exams for drivers, increased their fees as a result.

“If it’s something that will be borne by the parents, why not?” he said. “School buses should have seat belts, as the safety of our children is of utmost importance.”

Operators, however, will not be allowed to increase fees without the education regulator’s approval, said Hamad Al Dhaheri, executive director of the private schools and quality assurance sector at Abu Dhabi Education Council.

“Every year, we are given a provision by Adec to apply for a fee increase,” said Tabinda Al Ghizala, principal of the Sheikh Khalifa Pakistani School. “We do that and Adec decides whether or not the school is eligible.”

The school, which operates buses with 52 and 78 seats, has applied for a fee increase and is awaiting Adec’s approval.

School bus operators need to be 100 per cent compliant, so those who do not meet the new regulations will not be allowed to increase their fees, said Ali Makki, the stakeholders manager at the Department of Transport.

Drivers said they were prepared to undergo medical tests and training on safe driving techniques, defensive driving skills and student management.

“We’ve submitted our papers and we’re just waiting for them to contact us,” Mr Hassan said.