Remember when back-to-school season just meant new notebooks, squeaky shoes, and maybe a lunchbox shaped like your favorite cartoon character? Well, in Abu Dhabi, it also means a serious glow-up for the way kids get to school. The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) has basically decided, “Hey, let’s make the school run a whole lot safer—and maybe even less chaotic.” And honestly, every parent stuck in morning traffic just cheered.
The Homework Nobody Saw Coming
Instead of winging it, the ITC actually did its homework. We’re talking surveys at more than 60 schools, chatting with administrators, and probably nodding politely while everyone complained about drop-off bottlenecks. The result? Custom-made solutions for each school. Think of it like tailoring a suit, but instead of looking sharp, it’s about not getting stuck in a 30-minute car queue.
They’ve expanded bus and car parking, rejigged traffic flow (so you’re less likely to do that awkward “who goes first?” dance with another parent), and sprinkled in safety features like confetti at a parade.
Big Yellow Buses, But Make Them Extra Safe
Now, let’s talk buses. Abu Dhabi’s not playing around. Bigger buses carrying more than 40 kids will now rock an extra “STOP” sign, like they’re doubling down on saying, “Seriously, don’t pass me.” On top of that, inspection teams will patrol schools with heavy congestion during peak hours, basically playing traffic referees so things don’t spiral into honking chaos.
Safety, With a Side of Awareness
But it’s not just about curbs, cones, and shiny stop signs. The ITC’s got another ace up its sleeve: teaching kids to be savvy road users. Last year, 900+ students got hands-on lessons about safe bus rides and how not to cross the street like it’s a video game. This year? They’re rolling it out to even more schools across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra.
It’s like health class, but instead of scaring you with food pyramids, they’re showing kids how not to get flattened by traffic. Which, let’s be honest, is way more useful.
Enter Salama: The App That Knows Everything
And of course, what’s a 21st-century safety plan without some tech magic? Abu Dhabi has the Salama smart app—basically a digital hall monitor for school transport. It tracks buses, drivers, supervisors, and probably how many sandwiches the kids have traded before reaching school.
Here’s the scale:
- 222 registered bus operators
- 9,425 buses (yep, nearly a small city’s worth)
- 9,379 drivers (shoutout to the real MVPs)
- 11,136 supervisors (the ones making sure chaos stays contained)
- Covering 690 schools
That’s not just a system—it’s a school transport empire.
The Big Picture
At the heart of all this? Two big goals:
- Raise student awareness (because the kids need to play their part too).
- Improve infrastructure (so parents don’t feel like they’re in a demolition derby at 7:30 a.m.).
With Abu Dhabi Police, schools, and transport operators all in the mix, it’s a full-on team effort. The dream: a safe, smooth, and maybe even stress-free journey to school. (Okay, let’s not get carried away. But smoother traffic definitely helps.)
So, parents, take a deep breath. This school year, Abu Dhabi is putting in the work so the only thing you’ll need to stress about in the morning is whether your kid’s lunchbox made it into their bag. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll even get to work on time.
