DUBAI - Parents can expect up to a 100 per cent hike in the transportation fees of their children with the Roads and Transport Authority laying down a new set of regulations governing school buses.
Unveiling the ‘Dubai School Transport Manual’, which details a total reform in the existing transportation service including a complete change in the bus design and colour and mandatory training of drivers and assistants, Essa Al Dossari,CEOof the Public Transport Agency(PTA), said on Wednesday that the step was essential to provide adequate safety to the schoolchildren travelling on the buses.
Following the announcement, many schools and school transportation companies said the changes would be an expensive affair, calling for a major increase in the transportation fees.
The RTA has given a ‘flexible’ grace period of six months to all schools and transportation companies to change as per the new guidelines or face strict penalties.
Shedding light on the regulations, Ali Mohammed Al Jasim, Director of the Licensing Agency, told Khaleej Times that all school bus drivers For drivers and schools as well as the bus assistants will have to go through a mandatory training and test at the Public Transport Agency (PTA) following which they will be issued with a PTA permit.
“This permit makes them eligible to drive and manage the buses. The regulations apply also to the drivers and attendants who have been in these jobs for a long time. If a driver or attendant fails in the test, he will not be allowed to handle the school bus,” he said.
“The existing buses of schools also need to make the necessary changes. Or else, their ‘school bus’ permit will not be renewed. Any vehicle with more than 10 seats operating as a school bus has to follow all the regulations,” the official added.
The fines for not complying with the regulations range from Dh50 to Dh500.
Schools expressed apprehension about the costs they would have to incur to bring about these changes. Schools said parents would have to ultimately absorb the costs that could even result in a 100 per cent increase in the transportation fees.
Colonel Augustine, managing director of School Transport Services that operates the Bright Bus Company, said: “There would be at least a 75 to 100 per cent increase in transportation costs in all schools and the parents would have to bear them ultimately as no school can absorb them.
“However, these rules and regulations will help minimise accidents.” He noted that changing the colour of buses and upgrading existing ones would take time.
“Schools can try and economise on routes. More parents should be urged to use school buses so that the congestion on roads would be eased and buses could travel faster,” added Augustine.
Transport Manager of Indian High School Sunil Shetye said: “Parents may have to pay for these services. However, the regulations are good for the safety and security of children. It is up to the parents how they view these regulations.”
“These regulations have been brought in to improve the alarming conditions. We need to provide safety to the schoolchildren,” said Al Dossari.
According to the figures, the number of students in 92 government schools is 28,108, of whom 63 per cent (17,651 students) use school buses. Of the 1,36,738 students of 123 private schools, 61 per cent (83,798 students) use school buses.
While the private schools have 1,934 buses, the government schools have 235. At least 63,400 students of private schools don’t use school buses. Moreover, 8,316 students are not provided transportation means by their schools.
The alarming fact is 1,350 school bus drivers and 1,700 male and female bus attendants have not received any special training regarding transportation of students.
Also, 613 school buses don’t have safety belts. Around 27 per cent of Dubai schools don’t have entries and exits for buses.
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The driver should have a heavy bus driving licence and has to register and attend the PTA training and test. He should be at least 25 years old with no criminal record. He must also submit a medical fitness certificate
The driver must be good in either English or Arabic or needs to pass the theory test conducted by the PTA The permit issued to a driver will be valid for one year after which it has to be renewed. For renewal, the driver has to undergo training and take a test
The driver must wear clean uniformand should not eat or drink during trips
All schools have to provide transportation to the students and adequate transportation to the handicapped students Schools have to appoint an officer responsible for school buses. His contact details must be with the PTA and the parents. Schools must also designate the students’ seat in each bus. The back seats of the bus must be only for girl students
The schools must ensure that there is a guide with each bus and the buses are subjected to regular checks. The schools must also ensure that drivers are sent to training courses
RULES FOR SCHOOL BUSES
BUSES more than 15 years old will not operate as a ‘school bus’.
All school buses shall be yellow in colour with ‘School Bus’ written in Arabic and English between the headlights, uppermost part of the bus, the rear sides and on middle of both sides of the bus.
The name of the school or name of the operating company should also be displayed.
All buses should have an electronic ‘Stop’ arm outside just beneath the drivers’ door.
The arm comes out automatically and includes two red flashers which flash when the bus stops.
The bus windows should open towards the upper side only and should not consist of any iron or steel bars.
The window glasses should be 50 per cent tinted.
There should not be any foldable seats in the buses. The bus passageways should be empty without any obstacles.
There should not be hand rests, ashtrays.
There should be adequate space for storing the bags.
The spaces should be safe and in no way should the bags fall in case of an emergency.
The bus passageways must be covered by a layer of non-flammable and anti-slippery rubber.
There must be electronic doors that can be opened or closed only by the drivers.