UAE school bus rules: What parents, students and drivers need to know

The UAE’s Ministry of Interior has issued school transport safety guidelines outlining the responsibilities of students, parents, bus drivers, supervisors and school administrations to protect children during their daily journeys.

The guidance is part of the “Safe Roads for Our Students” campaign, launched through the Federal Traffic Council in September. The four-month initiative aims to improve school transport safety and promote safe practices among everyone involved in students’ journeys to and from school.

Here is what each group is expected to do under the guidelines.

What should school bus supervisors do?

School bus supervisors should assist children while boarding and getting off the bus, monitor their behaviour during the journey and record absences for reporting to the school administration.

They must also check the entire bus at the end of every trip to ensure no child is left inside.

What should schools do?

School administrations should designate safe areas for students to board and get off buses, and monitor both students and transport staff.

Schools should also inform parents if their child is absent or fails to board the bus. They are expected to communicate any concerns relating to a child’s safety to the family.

What should parents do?

Parents should accompany their children to the designated bus waiting area and ensure that someone is available to receive them when they return.

They should maintain regular communication with the school and bus supervisor and remain reachable by phone in case of concerns about their child’s journey.

What should students do?

Students should arrive at the designated waiting area five minutes before the bus is due and remain calm throughout the journey without distracting the driver.

After getting off the bus, they should move at least 10 steps away from the vehicle to avoid risks associated with standing too close as it moves.

Students must also remain seated and wear their seat belts while travelling.

What should school bus drivers do?

Drivers should inspect their vehicles daily to ensure they are roadworthy and stop only at safe locations when picking up or dropping off students.

They must not move the bus until all children have safely boarded or disembarked. Drivers are also required to activate the bus’s stop sign whenever they stop to pick up or drop off students.

What are the fines for violating school bus rules in the UAE?

The guidelines also highlight penalties for motorists and school bus drivers who fail to follow school bus safety rules.

• Motorists: Drivers must come to a complete stop in both directions when a school bus’s stop arm is extended. Failure to comply carries a fine of Dh1,000 and 10 traffic points.

• School bus drivers: Failure to activate the stop sign when required carries a fine of Dh500 and six traffic points.

The ministry’s campaign aims to reinforce these responsibilities and make school journeys safer through coordinated action by families, schools and transport personnel.