The Abu Dhabi Police Traffic department launched a safety awareness programme for 4,854 drivers and monitors. The campaign ran for 10 months and offered 74 lectures on safety standards.
The initiative was a joint effort between the Abu Dhabi Educational Council and Emirates Transport to raise awareness of school bus drivers and monitors to ensure pupils remain safe while on the buses.
Capt Aisha Al Zaabi, traffic awareness officer at the public relations section in Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Department, said the programme urged school bus drivers to adhere to traffic rules and speed limits, check the vehicles were in good shape, ensure all buses were equipped with all safety requirements and emergency exits suitable for the number of passengers, and ensure they were equipped with one or more fire extinguishers, and a first-aid kit.
Drivers also learnt how to keep a safe distance, stop at safe places to allow pupils to get on and off while ensuring monitors could oversee the process. The project also raised monitors’ awareness of their duties to ensure pupils’ safety onboard and while boarding or alighting.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
