RTA urges drivers to be cautious near schools

Roads and Transport Authority calls on drivers and parents to exercise utmost caution and care while driving in the vicinity of schools to ensure students safety and avert traffic accidents.

Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA's Traffic and Roads Agency, renewed RTA's commitment to foster traffic culture within the community with the aim of minimising accidents and fatalities in keeping with RTA's vision: "Safe and smooth transport for all."

She alerted bus drivers and students' parents to be more attentive while driving especially within school zones, noting that the main causes of traffic accidents in these areas were miscalculation on the part of road users.

She said that children run-over accidents in Dubai during school hours dropped from 20 in 2009 to 17 in 2010. Only four run-over accidents were recorded in the first half of this year.

She noted that the number of deaths resulting from traffic accidents occurred during school hours in the age group (3-18 years) had also dropped as two deaths were reported in 2008, one fatality reported in 2009, but no fatalities were reported in 2010 as well as the first half of the 2011.

She said traffic safety was a priority the Agency was seeking to apply on Dubai streets, especially during seasons where the traffic patterns in the emirate witnessed some changes, such as back-to-school season, and during the vagaries of weather, which would be the two key themes targeted by the awareness campaign during the fourth quarter of this year.

Maitha also urged drivers and students to fasten safety belts even on short-distance drives.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.