Press Releases
Apr 25 2015
RTA to launch school transport activity from next academic year 2015-2016
HE Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, issued an Administrative Order establishing the School Transport Department affiliated to Dubai Taxi Corporation. Tasks of the new Department include mapping out annual operation plans, drafting future programs for school transport activity, contracting with schools in providing students transit services, and operating a bus fleet at the highest quality standards using edge-cutting technologies. The Department comprises three sections: Planning & Commercial Affairs, Bus Maintenance, and Bus Operation.
“The school transport is one of the key public transport sectors in the world lifting millions of students every day. Engaging the RTA in this activity aims at providing safe & smooth transport for all students of different ages, and playing a leading role in delivering brilliant, safe & high quality services to students in such a way that encourages parents to allow their children transported by public transit means instead of private vehicles. It will also support the UAE Education Strategy 2020, raise the bar for school transport, and strike a balance between supply & demand,” he explained.
“Information in hand indicate that the total number of students in the Emirate of Dubai is in the tune of 253 thousand students of whom 151 thousand students (60%) use school buses, and the RTA is seeking to raise this proportion to 70%. For this end the RTA will start operating 50 buses in the next academic year, and the number is set to rise to 650 buses by 2024,” noted Al Tayer.
“The School Transport Department at the Dubai Taxi Corporation will be subjected to the same standards, conditions & controls applied to entities operating school transport services. Thus the practice will abide by Order No. (2) for 2008 regulating school transport in the Emirate of Dubai along with the Executive Regulation of the Order. It will also comply with the School Transport Manual published by the RTA detailing specifications of school buses in terms of shape, security & safety standards, and respective responsibilities of school managements, entities, supervisors, operators, drivers, students and parents,” he further added.
Zero Fatalities
“The RTA, represented by Drivers Affairs Department at Public Transport Agency, provides training for school bus drivers and supervisors, and subject them to theoretical & practical tests before issuing them with permits for practicing their respective professions. The number of licensed school bus drivers has grown from 5581 drivers in 2010 to 6696 drivers in 2012 and soared again to 8354 drivers in 2014. Equally, the number of bus supervisors leapfrogged from 2568 drivers in 2010 to 5000 supervisors in 2012 and continued to move upward to clock 7579 supervisors in 2014,” said RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director.
“The RTA undertakes inspection and monitoring of all school buses in 356 public & private schools and nurseries, and reports offences in case of detecting any violation to the rules during scheduled or surprise site visits. The RTA has coordinated with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority a requirement of sourcing an NOC from the RTA before granting new permits to educational institutions. Accordingly the number of NOCs issued from the RTA has grown steadily from 126 NOCs in 2010, to 137 NOCs in 2012 and 148 NOCs in 2014.
“The RTA is keen on boosting the safety of the school transport sector through running awareness campaigns, holding regular training workshops, and issuing offence tickets to bus operators in breach of the applicable rules. About 2916 offences were reported in 2010, and the number dropped to 2467 offences in 2012 before going up to 3086 offences in 2014. As a result of educative, awareness and law-enforcement campaigns, the awareness level of school bus operators has increased; which contributed to slashing the number of school bus accidents following the implementation of regulations from 81 accidents resulting in one fatality and six injuries in 2007 to 10 accidents in 2010, and the plummeted further to five accidents and zero fatality in 2014.
School Transport Conference
The RTA, in cooperation with the American National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), hosted the International School Transport Congress in 2013 for the first time in MENA region involving the participation of an elite bunch of international experts, specialists and decision makers. Through the event, the RTA sought to uplift the school transport industry of the region by showcasing the highest international practices of school transport, engaging stakeholders in upgrading school transport processes and acquainting participants with the safe & suitable environment of transporting students and teachers. The event also aimed at raising the awareness of supervisors, drivers, students and parents about the school transport system, and attracting investors from the private sector to take part in improving the school transport.
Sustainable Transport Award
In 2010 the RTA introduced the School Transport category to the Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport with the aim of encouraging school managements and businesses operating in the school transport sector to focus on improving the safety & security of school buses.
