As Dubai welcomes nearly 400,000 students back to classrooms for the new academic year, starting 25 August, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a wide-ranging back-to-school plan aimed at keeping school zones safe.
The initiative includes both physical improvements around schools and a series of traffic awareness programmes designed for children, parents and drivers.
Among the awareness initiatives are the 'Golden Rules for Generations’ Safety' programme for middle schooler students, the 'Hello, My School' initiative for kindergarten and primary school children, and a 'Virtual Driving Licence' programme tailored for high school students. To make safety messages engaging, RTA will also distribute gifts carrying QR codes that link to interactive traffic safety tips.
His Excellency Hussain Al Banna, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, stressed the importance of safe practices around schools, noting Dubai has maintained zero traffic fatalities in school zones since 2010. His Excellency Hussain also urged parents and drivers to use designated drop-off and pick-up areas, avoid stopping in restricted zones, and follow bus signals and school zone rules.
Additional measures this year include expanding electronic speed signboards near schools, more visible pedestrian crossings, and targeted awareness campaigns through social media and public channels.