UAE

School bus is undoubtedly the most convenient means of student transportation. But unfortunately, there are a number of safety issues faced by students travelling by school vehicles. Hence, there are a number of laws in place for ensuring safety.

The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) summarized the benefits of these laws as providing comfort, security and safety for students and parents alike. These benefits include reaching schools on time, reducing pollution emission resulting from vehicle exhausts and reducing traffic jams.

The Road and Transport Authority (RTA)

Roads and Transport Authority has provided the following control measures to schools, parents and transport operators.

Controlling measures

Window tinting of school buses shall not exceed 20%, with the possibility of opening the window up to 10 cm only, whether from top or sideways; curtains are forbidden.
Maximum speed of the school bus shall not exceed 80kph, with a speed control device installed conforming to the specifications and conditions specified by the Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology.

Specification of Bus Exterior:

The colour of the school bus shall be yellow, grade (RAL 1016 Zink Gelb GL&H) without hanging of any other colour, unless the manufacturer cannot provide paint (i.e. the parts made of non-metallic material such as the front bumper), in which case the colour of such parts shall be black.
The phrase «School Bus» shall be written in black in Arabic and English, with a font size of no less than 60 cm in height, and shall be written between the upper and lower halves on the front and rear sides of the bus, and in the middle of both sides of the bus.
The school bus shall be fitted with an Electronic Stop Rod on the exterior side, directly behind the driver's door, so that the word «Stop» is displayed outside electronically, with two red lights flashing when the bus stops.
The bus must be fitted with a light indicator system as follows:
Dual red light indicator on the uppermost part of the front/rear sides of the bus.
Dual yellow light indicator at the uppermost part of the front/rear sides of the bus.
All light indicators shall start flashing to indicate when the bus stops.
All buses shall place the “School Bus” sign on the right front side and the left rear side of the bus. The sign should be made of a reflective material, and measure 25 × 25 cm for large-size buses, and 17 × 17 cm for mini-buses.
It is strictly prohibited to place black or tinted windows internally or externally beyond the specified limit.
The bus number shall be written on the uppermost part of the right and left sides of the bus, on the front and rear sides.
The mirror system shall show all sides of the bus.

Specification of bus Interior:

The number of seats specified by the manufacturing company must be adhered to, and no collapsible middle seats are to be used.
The side hand rests, armrests, arm support, and any other solid materials must be removed from the back side of seats.
Each school bus must be fitted with a cooling system adapted to operating at a temperature not exceeding 24 degrees Celsius.
There must be a compartment for bags, provided that it neither obstructs students' movement nor falls on students in cases of sudden stop, accidents or during the normal bus movement.
The two doors of the bus must be fitted with hand rails to assist the boarding process.
The floor of the bus must be covered by non-flammable and non-slippery material.
The door opening and closing mechanism must be controlled by the driver, and electronic control is preferred.

Bus Safety Contents:

Maximum speed of the school bus shall not exceed 80kph, with a speed control device installed conforming to the specifications and conditions specified by the Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology.
Each bus must contain a first aid kit proportionate to the number of seats.
The bus must be fitted with a manual fire extinguisher, as follows: one 6-kg fire extinguisher if the school bus is less than 10 metres long, or two 6-kg fire extinguishers if the school bus is 10 metres long or more.
The extinguishers shall be suitable for all kinds of fires and placed in a designated place near the driver's seat, with a sign indicating that place.
The lifespan of the extinguisher shall not exceed 10 years as of the date of manufacture.
The school bus must have emergency exits proportionate to the number of passengers, with clear signs indicating these exits. There must be no hindrances impeding students' movement in emergency cases.
The bus must have mobile safety belts fitted to all front-row passenger seats such as front seats, and middle seats in the last row. The driver's seat must be fitted with a 3-point safety belt.
There must be no sharp edges on the interior and exterior sides of the bus.
The school bus must have an emergency exit at each side for buses with more than 16 seats, in addition to one emergency exit. The passenger door and driver's door are not considered emergency doors.
All seats must have elevated back rests of at least 71 cm high. The distance between seats shall not be less than 64 cm (single seat) and 60 cm (double seats). Triple seats are prohibited in school buses.
One exit on each side of the bus, plus one roof exit, for buses that accommodate 20–34 passengers.
Two exits on each side plus two roof exits, for buses that accommodate more than 34 passengers.
The aisle width shall not be less than 40 cm for buses that accommodate no more than 16 passengers, and 50 cm for buses that accommodate more than 16 passengers.

In addition to the above specifications, all seats on nursery buses must be fitted with triple-buckle safety belts.

Responsibilities of Schools and Operators:

In order to advance school transport service to excellent standards in the emirate of Dubai, the following responsibilities shall be assumed by each school principal in the emirate:

Appoint a qualified individual as a direct bus supervisor, and provide all students with his/her contact details.
The direct bus supervisor may set the routes of the school bus, and get them approved by the school principal.
Allocate seats to students at the beginning of the academic year in co-operation with the school principal and driver, and ensure that each student has a designated seat for the entire year.
Provide a means of communication between the driver and the direct supervisor throughout the trip.
Designate the front seats for boys and back seats for girls. Mixed random seating is forbidden. Gender-separated buses are preferred, if possible.
Appoint a female conductor for each bus, with the exception of buses serving state students only, from class 6 up to the secondary level.
Oblige the female conductor to attend the prescribed training courses at the Agency.
Carry out regular bus maintenance every 10,000 km and produce a register, submitting supporting documents to the Agency's inspector.
Issue drivers with an official uniform, and ensure they maintain personal hygiene and good conduct before students.
School buses are allowed to transport passengers other than students, provided that the «School Bus» phrase is removed or covered, and the «School Bus» sign is covered.
It is prohibited to carry out cursory maintenance work, repairs or leave any spare parts or bodywork of any kind inside the school premises, near school walls or school surroundings.
Provide the Agency with proof of maintenance, be it bills or maintenance contracts with approved auto workshops, on demand.
Obtain a bus operation permit from the bus operator/owner, be it the school or any other entity; amend the bus ownership to reflect a «School Bus» and present the documents to the Licensing Agency's officer.
Amend all school bus specifications to fit the school bus specifications stated in this Manual.

Responsibilities of School Bus Drivers

Use the Electronic Stop Rod when picking up/dropping off students.
Cover the «School Bus» phrase when using the school bus for any other activity.
Wear the official uniform while carrying out school transport duties, and keep it in a clean condition.
Abstain from smoking, eating and drinking while driving.
Keep the school bus in a clean condition.
Be punctual and inform the direct supervisor in case of any delay.

All school bus drivers in the emirate of Dubai shall report to the Drivers' Training and Qualification Department at the Agency, located at Al Awer Public Bus Station, to obtain a “School Bus Driving Permit”, noting that issuing the permit is subject to the following conditions:

The driver must hold a UAE driving licence, and a permit of the same licence category.
The driver must have attended and completed the «School Bus driver's Basic Course».
The driver's age should not be under 25.
The driver must be of good conduct with no history of criminal records.
The driver must present the traffic points report issued by the concerned bodies.
The driver must have a disease-free certificate, and submit proof of drug- and alcohol-free status.
The driver must be literate in both English and Arabic.
The driver must pass the theoretical test prepared by the Agency, regarding the subjects covered by the training course.
The permit must be associated with the bus operator, which is entitled to submit an application to the Agency for cancellation of the driver's permit upon service termination.

To renew a school driving permit after the expiry of one year of issuance, the following conditions shall be observed:

The driving permit shall not have expired more than a month ago, otherwise a new application shall be submitted.
The driver must submit a disease-free certificate, together with proof of drug- and alcohol-free status.
The driver must present the black points report; however, the Agency is entitled to reject any application if it deems the driver may pose a risk to students.
The driver must complete the «School Bus drivers Course» organized by the Agency, which covers in brief the contents of the basic training course.
The driver must pass the theoretical test prepared by the Agency, regarding the subjects covered by the training course.

Responsibilities of Students and Parents:

Parents and students shall assume the following responsibilities:

Parents have to deliver their children to the school bus or the assembly point at the specified time. If there is a delay on their part, parents have to deliver their children to the school, without holding the driver accountable.
Parents should help in training and educating their children on the importance of traffic safety, and how to wait for and ride the school bus.
Parents should notify the school administration of any offence or negligence on the part of the driver.
The driver may return the students to the school if no one comes to collect them upon returning home, under the responsibility of the parents.
Students should maintain the bus's cleanliness and notify the school management or their parents of any offences committed by the driver or students.

A student may be denied further transport if any of the following occur:

The student causes the school bus to be delayed more than three times during the academic year.
The student violates any safety rules or poses a danger to others during the bus trip.
The student refuses to ride the bus from the assembly/gathering point agreed in advance with the school administration.
The student leaves the school bus before reaching their designated drop-off point without prior permission.
The student continues to cause trouble during bus trips, with more than three cases reported against them.

The Agency invites all parents of students to participate in courses organized to educate students and parents on how to use school buses and the importance of school transport.

Responsibilities of Female Bus Conductors:

Help students board/alight from the school bus.
Maintain students' safety and usher them to their seats.
Help students cross the street and ensure they are collected by their families.
Ensure, at the end of the trip, that the bus is empty and all students have departed with their bags and personal belongings.
Quickly deal with emergency cases and contact the concerned parties to take necessary action.

Procedures for obtaining School Bus Ownership:

Step 1: Satisfy the school bus specifications as per the Guiding Manual.
Step 2: Report to one of the Licensing Agency's Offices to submit the “Bus Ownership” application.
Step 3: Produce the bus ownership documents when requested during inspection.

Procedure for obtaining a School Bus Driver Permit:

The following procedures should be followed for obtaining a “School Bus Driver” permit:

Step 1: The applicant must satisfy the following conditions — hold a heavy bus driving licence; be at least 25 years old; be literate in both English and Arabic.
Step 2: Must hold a “No criminal precedents certificate” from Dubai Police.
Step 3: Must obtain the black points report from Dubai Police.
Step 4: Must undergo a medical test and obtain a disease-free certificate, as well as drug- and alcohol-free status.
Step 5: Documents have to be submitted to the Drivers Qualification & Training Department at the Public Transport Agency, located at Al Awer Station, for enrollment in the “School Bus Driver” course.

Procedure for obtaining a Female Bus Conductor Permit:

The following steps must be adhered to:

Step 1: The applicant must satisfy the following conditions — be at least 25 years old; hold at least the General Secondary Certificate or equivalent.
Step 2: Perform a medical test and obtain a medical fitness certificate.
Step 3: Documents have to be submitted to the Drivers Qualification & Training Department at the Public Transport Agency, located at Al Awer Station, for enrollment in the “School Bus Driver” course.