Dubai schools achieve 16-year road safety record as students return to classrooms
New initiatives teach children safer habits around roads and buses
DUBAI – The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a series of awareness programmes and activities for students, parents and drivers as the 2026-2027 academic year begins in Dubai.
The initiatives form part of RTA’s annual traffic awareness plan, which focuses on promoting safe road behaviour and highlighting the causes of traffic accidents in school zones. They also align with the nationwide “Traffic Safety for School Students” campaign led by the Ministry of Interior.
RTA has urged parents and drivers to exercise caution around schools, follow speed limits, avoid improper and double parking, and refrain from unsafe overtaking. Motorists have also been advised to use designated areas when dropping off and collecting students, while taking extra care at pedestrian crossings and around school buses.
أطلقت #هيئة_الطرق_و_المواصلات برامجها وفعالياتها التوعوية الموجّهة إلى طلبة المدارس وأولياء الأمور والسائقين مع بداية العام الدراسي الجديد 2026–2027، ضمن خطتها السنوية للتوعية المرورية الهادفة إلى تعزيز السلوكيات الآمنة، ورفع مستوى الوعي بأسباب الحوادث في المناطق المدرسية، وترسيخ… pic.twitter.com/Zlan3FpROa
— RTA (@rta_dubai) September 1, 2026
The authority said vigilance is particularly important during the first weeks of the academic year, when traffic volumes around schools typically increase.
Focus on safety
Hussain Al Banna, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said school students remain among the key target groups in the authority’s traffic awareness plans, particularly with the growing number of students in Dubai.
“We therefore seek to instil a culture of safety from the early school years, with awareness messages and programmes tailored to students’ age and educational level,” Al Banna said.
He said RTA’s awareness plans are based on traffic statistics and surveys. During the 2025-2026 academic year, the authority surveyed more than 20,000 parents. The survey found that 91 percent used designated student drop-off and pick-up areas in school zones, while 71 percent reported full awareness of the related rules.
According to the survey, 44 percent of students travelled by school bus and around 47 percent by private vehicle. The remainder walked, used public transport, or relied on individual and shared mobility options.
Al Banna said RTA’s awareness and engineering measures, implemented in cooperation with government and private-sector partners, have helped maintain zero traffic fatalities at Dubai schools since 2010.
He also stressed the role of families in encouraging safe road behaviour by following traffic rules, wearing seat belts, respecting pedestrian crossings and speed limits, and avoiding mobile phone use while driving.
“A student’s safety on the daily journey to and from school is a shared responsibility that begins at home and extends to the road, the school bus and the area surrounding the school,” he said.
School journeys
Al Banna urged parents to plan school journeys in advance, allow sufficient travel time and avoid dropping students off in the middle of the road or at undesignated locations.
He warned that double parking outside schools can disrupt traffic flow, obstruct visibility and put children at risk. Drivers have also been urged to reduce speed in school zones, remain prepared to stop at pedestrian crossings and watch for children emerging from between parked vehicles.
RTA said motorists should avoid mobile phones and other distractions while driving near schools and during student drop-off and pick-up periods.
With the new academic year under way, the authority will resume programmes tailored to different educational levels. These include “Hello, My School” for kindergarten and primary school students, “Golden Rules for Generations’ Safety” and “Virtual Driving Licence” for secondary-school students.
RTA will also take part in school events and conduct awareness activities in cooperation with schools and other partners. The programmes use interactive approaches to teach students safe road crossing, correct use of pedestrian crossings and seat belts, and safe behaviour when boarding and leaving vehicles and school buses.
Students will also be taught about the importance of avoiding danger zones around buses and vehicles, with activities designed according to their educational levels.
Road upgrades
Alongside its awareness efforts, RTA is continuing traffic and engineering improvements around schools. These include upgrades to entry and exit points, pedestrian crossings, traffic-calming measures, road signs and road markings.
The authority is also expanding digital and interactive awareness tools as part of its school safety efforts. Educational materials and giveaways featuring QR codes and digital links will provide students with access to visual content and road safety messages.