Coronavirus: Safety measures for UAE school buses revealed

Wearing of face masks and temperature checks will be mandatory for pupils and staff

Wearing face masks will be mandatory on school buses. Courtesy: STS

Mandatory use of face masks, temperature checks and physical distancing are some of the measures school buses will have in place once classes resume across the UAE in a few weeks.

On Sunday, School Transport Services, one of the UAE’s largest school transport companies, said it would also ensure buses are sanitised before and after each journey.

The company has a fleet of more than 2,500 buses in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai. More than 80,000 pupils use its buses each day during a regular academic year.

“In these challenging times, there is a renewed focus on the safety aspect of our operations, and we have added a comprehensive list of Covid-19 related safety requirements for our student school bus services,” said Steve Burnell, managing director of STS.

“The new protocols, which is in line with the relevant authorities’ requirements, addresses pupils, our buses, our drivers and bus guardians and our entire fleet operation.

“We make sure that all of our people are well trained and familiar with the new situation and the latest safety protocols.”

He said the new measures would ensure the buses would be the safest way to travel to and from school.

Thomas Edelmann, managing director of Road Safety UAE, welcomed the new measures, as pupils prepare to return to the classroom for the first time since March.

“Covid-19 brings a lot of change to society and certainly parents want to have the extra reassurance that their children are being transported in the safest way there is,” he said.

A glimpse inside a Dubai school's Covid-19 safety measures: