Authorities in Abu Dhabi are taking further steps to ensure the safety of students travelling on school buses.
The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) has launched a smart application, which allows parents to monitor bus trips to and from school in real-time.
The 'Salama' app records students' attendance and also enables parents to directly communicate with bus supervisors and operators.
Its other features include providing updates on when students board and disembark from the school bus, as well as the estimated arrival time at school or home through notifications.
The initiative will help evaluate the performance of school transport staff by tracking pick-up and drop-off times, taking into consideration traffic congestion as well as the start time and end time of students' trips to and from schools.
The app is available to all students in private and charter schools in Abu Dhabi, during its first phase.
The ITC has implemented training sessions and workshops to familiarise all relevant entities with the new system.
These sessions were attended by representatives from 256 educational institutions, including private schools, nurseries and 768 school bus operators, transport coordinators and supervisors in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra region.
تطبيق "سلامة"، الذي أطلقه مركز النقل المتكامل التابع لدائرة البلديات والنقل – أبوظبي، مُتاح لجميع المدارس الخاصة ومدارس الشراكات التعليمية في الإمارة، ويهدف إلى دعم أولياء الأمور لتتبع مسار رحلات الحافلات المدرسية بين المنازل والمدارس. pic.twitter.com/73w6FxB0rU
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) October 20, 2023
.@AbuDhabiDMT’s Integrated Transport Centre, in collaboration with strategic partners, has launched the Salama application, allowing parents and educational institutions to track school buses during journeys in the emirate. pic.twitter.com/gpx6uDX8UG
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) October 20, 2023