ROP cautions students on traffic safety

As students are preparing to return to schools today for the new academic year, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) stressed on the need for adhering to Covid-19 protocols, and traffic laws and regulations.

In a statement issued on the eve of the new school year, the ROP said, “For the safety of the students, caretakers should enlighten them about the need for wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and avoiding gatherings.”

While wishing the students a successful new academic year, ROP asked the students not to stand on the roads while waiting for school buses.

The ROP, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, as part of its keenness to ensure safety of students, is taking all necessary steps especially with regard to traffic aspects.

“Students playing and running on the roads while waiting for the buses is a traffic hazard that threatens their safety,” points out the statement, warning students against making a rush at the time of boarding the buses to occupy seats of their choice.

“This can result in falls, that too, in front of running vehicles causing run-over accidents,” the statement said, urging students to avoid chasing or hanging onto the buses while they are on the move.

“The family is an important party in the traffic safety system through its active role in educating children and following them up. Parents, when taking their children to schools, must take into account the appropriate time to move from home to avoid leaving their children alone in front of the school,” the statement said.

For school drivers, the ROP said, “They have a pivotal responsibility in order to achieve the desired goal of ensuring the safety of students, by adhering to traffic regulations and laws, paying attention while driving and adhering to the specified speed.”