Police have urged parents to follow traffic rules while dropping their children to school as new academic year begins on Sunday. Parents parking in front of the school’s gates to drop their children, motorists ignoring school bus stop signs, allowing pupils to sit in front seats, were some of mistakes highlighted by officials.

“Some parents’ behaviour causes accidents and traffic jams as they insist on dropping their children in front of the school gates. Parents should park near the schools and walk with their children to the gate for their safety,” Maj Gen Al Zafein said.

He also stressed that all school buses should use stop sign while dropping or picking up students, “It is important to use the sign to warn other motorists. Any driver not using the sign will be fined Dh500 and six traffic points,” Maj Gen Al Zafein said.

Official statistics revealed that in 2017, officers in the UAE issued 87 traffic tickets to school bus drivers who failed to use the stop sign.

Meanwhile, 473 motorists were fined last year for failing to halt their vehicles on seeing the stop signs. They were fined Dh1,000 and slapped with 10 traffic points.