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28 March 2024

Your child's Dubai school bus may never be same

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

A new set of rules relating to school transportation has been issued, including the phasing out of the minibus and the incorporation of the three-seater arrangement in school buses, Dubai’s Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) has confirmed.

On July 11, 2014 Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, issued the Executive Council’s Resolution No (18) of 2014 regulating school transportation in Dubai.

The resolution is an update of the previous regulations, with the aim to enhance supervision and ensure safety and discipline amongst all school transportation providers, said Essa Al Hashmi, Director of the Planning and Business Development at the RTA.

All the rules, fines and fees set forth in this resolution went into effect immediately. However, with the summer break continuing, the changes will only become clear to the public in September, when Dubai schools re-open their doors.

The RTA clarified the most important changes that should be implemented with the issuance of the new rules.

Minibus phase-out

It has long been a topic of discussion and many have suggested the move, but now it is official: the use of minibuses has been banned for use in school transportation.

“The rule shall be applicable tentatively from the academic year 2014-15, however, schools that have these buses in use have a grace period of 18 months to replace them,” said Al Hashmi.

Last year, the RTA had called for schools to stop using minibuses from after statistics showed the shocking number of accidents involving the 14-seater. In the first half of 2013, 30 minibus accidents were reported, while 15-20 accidents involving minibuses are the yearly average.

“When the bus is driven at a high speed and goes into a curve, the bus could easily collapse. The bus should ideally be driven at a maximum speed of 80km/h, and without passengers,” suggested Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, who heads the Federal Traffic Council and in his position called for a total ban of what is also referred to as the ‘coffin on wheels’.

Three-seater arrangement

A new sort of bus will be introduced, referred to as the three-seater arrangement. “The three-seater arrangement includes three seats on one side, followed by two seats on the other side, which will allow for more space in the bus,” explained al Hashmi.

In order to maintain the safety of the school bus users, safety standards for the arrangements have been set, which will be carried out by the manufacturers and approved by Civil Defence before the new buses are operated.

Further, because these buses will have an increased capacity of passengers, the employment of more than one school bus attendant will be permitted. “In these buses the number of passengers can add up to 65, and in such a case we urge the school to have more than one attendant on board,” said Al Hashmi.

The new buses are expected to be on the market from next semester, and it will be optional for schools to use the buses, he concluded.

Violations and fines


“The new regulations have been issued with a keen focus on ensuring adherence by the school bus operator to the changes in the rules and regulations,” said Al Hashmi.

Towards this end, several processes have toughened, and the consequences of violating the rules have become more pronounced.

When a fine has been issued and the offence is repeated within a year from the date of issuing the fine, value will be doubled, although the total amount cannot exceed Dh10,000.

In addition to issuing a fine, the RTA has the right to cancel the permit, or suspend it for a maximum period of 6 months.

Currently, the violations that were in place remain the same, but amendments may be made as new buses are introduced.

New fees

A few new fees have been introduced for services which previously did not require a fee payment.

The fees are:

-          Issuing or renewing a permit to operate a school bus: Dh200

-          Issuing a replacement for a damaged or lost permit to operate a school bus: Dh100

-          Issuing or renewing a school bus driver’s permit: Dh200

-          Issuing a school bus driver’s replacement for a damaged or lost permit: Dh100

-          Issuing or renewing a school bus supervisor’s permit

-          Issuing a school bus supervisor’s damaged or lost permit: Dh100