The Emirates Transport Center of School Transport is responsible for providing secure school bus transport in Dubai and other Emirates. The service is available for students enrolled in public schools. The government follows strict guidelines to ensure the maximum security and comfort of the students. All the buses are customised as per the international standards to cater to the needs of students.
Let’s take a look at the school bus transport in Dubai in more detail.
School Bus Service in Dubai
School transport is a significant part of public transport in Dubai. Other than the school hours, the buses are also available for school trips and youth centres.
Currently, around 200,000 students utilise the school bus service in Dubai and other Emirates. The fleet consists of 3,574 buses that pick up students from 120,000 collection points.
Here are other important details related to school transport in Dubai.
Specifications of School Buses
The government provides complete details regarding the exterior, interior and safety measures of the school bus. These guidelines ensure the security and protection of school buses and students travelling from government buses.
Exterior Requirements
It is necessary for all the school buses to be painted yellow with ‘School Bus’ written in Arabic and English with a font size of at least 80 inches. The sign should be on the right front side and left rear side. However, the writings should not cover more than 1500 cm square.
Moreover, installing bars at the windows (interior or exterior) is strictly prohibited. For ensuring road safety, the buses must be fitted with Electronic Stop Rod and light indicators.
Interior Requirements
To meet the interior requirements, the company manufactured buses need to be modified. Any sort of additional seats are prohibited, and the floor must be covered with non-flammable and non-slippery rubber. Every bus must have two doors that will be operated by the driver.
To maintain the temperature, buses must have a cooling system that maintains a temperature not exceeding 24℃. Furthermore, a separate compartment to store bags is necessary in every bus.
Offences and Fines
School transport is liable to follow all the traffic laws and will have to pay Dubai traffic fines in case of any violation. Along with these, the bus drivers are also subjected to some additional traffic laws mentioned below.
Offences | Fines (AED) |
|---|---|
Offences Using school bus after one month of permit expiration | Fines (AED) 100 |
Offences Driving a bus without a permit | Fines (AED) 500 |
Offences Driving a bus with an expired or no driving licence | Fines (AED) 500 |
Offences Failing to place bus permit on designated place | Fines (AED) 50 |
Offences Bus exterior is not according to governmental guidelines | Fines (AED) 150 |
Offences Refusing to show driving licence to the enforcement officer | Fines (AED) 500 |
Offences Bus interior is not according to governmental guidelines | Fines (AED) 200 |
Offences Failing to cater to safety regulations | Fines (AED) 300 |
Offences Violating commitments mentioned in Order or Executive Regulations | Fines (AED) 50 |
Offences Avoiding the responsibilities as a bus operator or school | Fines (AED) 100 |
Offences The phrase ‘School Bus’ is subtle | Fines (AED) 200 |
Offences Unable to operate Electronic Bus Rod | Fines (AED) 200 |
Offences Using Electronic Bus Rod other than transporting students | Fines (AED) 200 |
Service Benefits of Dubai School Bus
Dubai school buses offer secure pick and drop service. However, parents are responsible to drop and pick up their children at a specific location or assembly point. In case parents are not available, the bus will drop them again at the school for safety measures.
Other than safe and secure commuting, the school bus service in Dubai provides other benefits also. See the following list of benefits that you can avail of from the Dubai school bus service:
Security: All the school buses are monitored through CCTV cameras installed on the bus. Moreover, GPS tracking systems and email notifications are used to inform parents/guardians regarding the location of students.
Comfort: For a comfortable journey buses are regularly maintained, as per the criteria. Along with this, a hydraulic suspension system and the noiseless cabin provide a stress-free ride to the students.
Trained Staff: Drivers and conductors are trained for the school bus service.
Service Fares
The service fare of a Dubai school bus is dependent upon the distance between your area of residence and the location of the school. For a rough estimation, you can see the transportation fees of private schools. The Gems Our Own Indian School charges AED 4,100/year from Bur Dubai to the school campus located at Al Quoz.
Contact Information
The Dubai school bus service is monitored by DTC. You can visit the official website of the School Bus Transportion Service or call 80088088 or email at school.bus@dtc.gov.ae.
This was all about the Dubai school bus service and the benefits that it provides to the students. Despite all the facilities provided by the school transport system, some parents may prefer to drop off their students using private cars. If you are interested in this option, browse through these used cars for sale in Dubai.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more information on Dubai school buses.
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