Back to school in UAE: 10 traffic rules to know as fines reach up to Dh3,000

As students return to classrooms across the UAE, roads around schools are expected to become busier during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up hours.

With parents rushing to drop off their children, school buses arriving and leaving, and pupils crossing roads and entering school gates, even a small traffic violation can create congestion and increase safety risks. Drivers are therefore urged to plan their journeys, leave home early and follow traffic rules around school zones.

When a school bus stops and extends its 'Stop' arm to allow pupils to get on or off, drivers approaching the bus must stop and wait until the bus has finished the process and it is safe to continue.

Some motorists may see the bus ahead and assume they have enough space to pass, particularly if they are in a hurry. However, children may be getting off the bus and crossing the road, making it difficult for drivers to predict their movements.

Drivers should slow down as soon as they see a school bus stopping and remain stationary while the Stop arm is extended. Giving pupils a few extra seconds to get on or off the bus can help prevent accidents and keep the area around the bus clear.

Speeding around schools can leave drivers with less time to react when children suddenly cross the road, a school bus stops or a vehicle slows down to drop off a pupil.

Many school areas have lower speed limits, and motorists should follow the signs rather than assuming the same speed limit applies throughout the road. A driver in a rush to drop off a child may continue at their usual speed without noticing they have entered a lower-speed zone.

Even when the road appears clear, children can suddenly cross or move between vehicles, so drivers should slow down and stay alert.

Speeding fines depend on how much the driver exceeds the posted limit, starting at Dh300 and reaching up to Dh3,000 for serious violations.

It can be tempting to quickly check a message, answer a call or look at the navigation while driving to school, especially when parents are already rushing to get children to class on time. But taking your attention off the road for even a few seconds can mean missing what is happening directly ahead.

School areas require extra attention; a driver looking at their phone may not notice a pupil stepping onto a crossing or a vehicle stopping suddenly in front of them.

Drivers should keep their phones away and stay focused on the road throughout the journey, particularly when approaching schools.

Pedestrian crossings around schools can become particularly busy during drop-off and pick-up times, with groups of pupils and parents often crossing at the same time.

Drivers should slow down when approaching a designated crossing and give pedestrians enough time to cross safely. Trying to pass through before a child reaches the other side leaves little time to react if they suddenly stop, change direction, or another child follows behind them.

For parents, it may only take a few extra seconds to cross the road, but for drivers, giving them that time can prevent a potentially serious situation.