Sharjah Police: safe school transport initiative

August 21, 2025 / 11:22 AM

Sharjah 24: Based on the Sharjah Police General Command's (SPGC) commitment to enhancing student safety at the beginning of the new academic year, the Security Media Department organised a series of awareness lectures across the emirate as part of the "Our First Lessons: Safety" campaign at the Sharjah Cultural Palace.

Approximately 600 school bus drivers and supervisors participated in the lectures, aiming to raise traffic awareness and promote safe practices while transporting students.

Collaborative efforts

The initiative was implemented in cooperation with Emirates Transport, the Child Safety Department, the Belhasa Driving Institute, and the Ministry of Health, reflecting the commitment of all cooperating parties to unify efforts and integrate roles to ensure the highest levels of student protection.

Raising awareness

Colonel Abdulrahman Khater, Deputy Director of the Security Media Department, said that the lectures aim to promote positive practices among drivers, such as adhering to safe stops, driving within the specified speed limits, focusing while driving, and communicating effectively with students. They also aim to guide drivers and supervisors to implement the best procedures inside the bus, ensuring a safe and comfortable school environment for students.

Khater called on everyone to adhere to safety rules during the new academic year.

Ensuring children protection

For her part, Hanadi Al Yafei, Director General of the Child Safety Department, emphasised that the Foundation's participation with SPGC in the awareness campaign targeting bus drivers and supervisors stems from a firm belief in the importance of unifying efforts and integrating roles between relevant institutions to ensure the safety and protection of children during their daily school trips.

Rapid intervention

Al Yafei explained that this year, the Foundation was keen to provide an awareness programme using an intelligent, interactive, and educational approach in several languages (Arabic, English, and Urdu) to enhance drivers' and supervisors' commitment to safety procedures and protect students from the dangers surrounding bus boarding and disembarkation areas. She emphasised the importance of introducing the Child Safety Line as a practical tool for reporting any situation that requires rapid intervention.

The Ministry of Health also played a role in supporting the safety of bus drivers by conducting comprehensive medical examinations to ensure their health readiness and support the safety of students.