PARENTS have been urged to use only licensed transport services for their children, ahead of schools reopening for the new academic year next month.
A list of 423 individuals and 75 companies authorised to provide school transportation has been released by the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry in co-operation with the General Directorate of Traffic.
According to the 2024-2025 academic calendar, teachers, administrators and faculty will return to schools on Sunday following a two-month holiday, while students will be back in their classrooms on Wednesday.
Traffic Directorate legal affairs division head Major Khalid Buqais said that an annual road plan and safety training campaign is underway to facilitate school traffic and ensure the safety of students.
“Training campaigns and lectures have been launched for licensed drivers to ensure they do their jobs as safely as possible,” he said.
“They are being taught on how to pick up a child from the parents, how to transport them safely, how they should be seated, as well as the importance of following all rules and regulations.
“All drivers should follow the instructions set out by the authorities, and those who break the law will face legal action.”
All licensed drivers are being urged to do a full inspection of their vehicles before they start doing the school run.
In addition, they need to make certain that no child is left behind on the bus after they are done dropping them off to school and back to their homes.
Meanwhile, parents who choose to drop their children off to school themselves are being urged to follow the instructions of traffic police and other members of public security who will be present at the school gates.
In co-operation with the Education Ministry, the directorate will seek to curb reckless driving by parents or guardians.
Parents are being warned against using mobile phones while driving, no matter what the reason.
When entering a school zone, they also have to make sure that there are no children in the direct vicinity of the vehicle.
They should also slow down when driving near schools, and watch out for children suddenly crossing the road.
Finally, they should wake up early to avoid rushing to school, and avoid reckless driving when pressed for time.
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