UAE: FNC members call for stricter safety measures on school buses

UAE: FNC members call for stricter safety measures on school buses

The members put forward several proposals to improve safety on school buses

File photo for illustrative purposes

Published: Thu 10 Mar 2022, 2:52 PM

Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) have called for stricter safety measures in school transport, including strict criteria to hiring school bus drivers to reduce accidents and ensure safety of pupils.

The members put forward several proposals to improve safety on school buses, including mandatory training courses for all school bus drivers, need for drivers to undergo psychological tests before they are hired for the job and assigning small-sized buses to transport smaller students so they can be monitored by the driver and supervisor.

Last month, a 12-year-old girl was killed after she was run over by her school bus in Ajman. According to Ajman Police, the Umm Ammar school student, hailed from a Gulf country. The girl got off near her house and moved across the front of the bus front to get to her home. Unfortunately, the driver did not spot her and began driving the bus, running over the child.

Hamad Ahmed Al Rahoumi, first deputy Speaker of the FNC and member representing Dubai, says it was important to tighten control measures on school buses and their drivers,