ABU DHABI, 27th April, 2023 (WAM) — The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) has launched various campaigns to ensure safety of students and raise awareness amongst school students in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
These campaigns were launched under the umbrella of the Joint Committee for Traffic Safety, which consists of the ITC, Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, and SEHA as its members, and is presided over by the Department of Municipalities and Transport. The campaigns comprise educating students on safety measures during transportation to and from schools. They target 6,500 students in 20 different schools and will last for six months. Furthermore, the campaigns are conducted in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), and the STS Group, which controls student transport, according to a secure system that ensures the safety of students.
Moreover, the campaigns aim to empower the student community to become road safety advocates through a unique learning environment with an orderly road safety curriculum. The campaign includes awareness workshops, presentations, and educational and training materials on road safety requirements, to suit students' different educational levels (primary, middle school, and high school).
In addition to training materials on safety measures while on school bus and the hazardous areas around the bus, what to do in case of emergency, and the local laws and regulations on the use of personal mobility devices such as bicycles and electric scooters. This was achieved through the participation in interactive educational games, videos, and quizzes to teach school students how to handle their safety on the road as an ongoing responsibility.
The campaign also introduced an interactive electronic platform that enacts proper behaviour on the school bus when embarking and disembarking, reaching and leaving the school, and correctly using pedestrian crossings and intersections.
The Integrated Transport Centre also explained that the goal of the campaigns is to consolidate the principles of traffic safety, proper behaviour on roads, and safe driving ethics for children at a young age in a constructive manner to create a more disciplined generation of road users who will adhere to traffic safety requirements. Therefore, achieving safer roads and ensuring the safety of students on their daily commute to schools.
These campaigns are part of the efforts of the Joint Committee for Traffic Safety, according to the wise leadership’s instructions, to establish a safe and sustainable transport environment that facilitates transport options and mobility in Abu Dhabi, ensures the safety of its residents and visitors, and improves the quality of life in the emirate.