Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police have launched a campaign to improve children’s safety on their way to school and around the school premises, it was announced on Saturday.
Titled ‘Together for Our Children’s Safety’, the campaign aims to improve the movement of students and parents around schools in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Ali Khalfan Al Daheri, director-general of Central Operations, Abu Dhabi Police, said that a comprehensive plan was in place for the start of the new school year. He said there will be increased police presence and patrolling as well as support by traffic Air Wing and ambulances equipped with the latest equipment to deal with any emergency cases.
The strategy which has been put together in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) will see intensified presence of traffic patrols at intersections and in front of schools. The official stressed that all drivers should abide by traffic laws and speed limits, especially around schools. Police will follow and fine any violators.
Al Daheri urged school bus drivers to abide by traffic laws and speed limits and to ensure students’ safety on buses by ensuring simple measures such as children under the age of 10 sitting in the back seat and students not standing while the vehicle is moving.
Trucks weighing 2.5 tonnes and buses carrying workers with capacity of 50 passengers have also been banned from Abu Dhabi Island’s internal roads between 6.30am and 9am, in an effort to make the roads safer for students and parents.
