The Public Works Authority “Ashghal” has completed enhancing traffic safety for the roads surrounding 546 out of 623 schools nationwide that were included in the School Zone Safety Program in preparation for the new academic year 2023/24.
Ashghal is planning with the Service of Inside and the Public Street Security Council to recognize schools needing improvement in view of a review directed by the Service of Training and Advanced education. The purpose of this plan is to guarantee the safety of parents, teachers, and students entering and leaving school buildings.
Moreover, security plans are being executed around 48 schools while 3 others’ wellbeing highlights are still under plan, and 26 Schools are booked for development.
Ashghal began executing the School Zone Wellbeing System in 2013 where it included 10 schools just, as it developed to envelop up to 623 schools in 2023, in accordance with the Public Street Security Methodology.
Engineer Ahmed Rashid Al-Kubaisi said: ” In accordance with international standards, Ashghal continues to implement a comprehensive and ongoing plan every year to increase the number of schools included in the plan and ensure and improve traffic safety around school areas.
The arrangement intends to lessen gridlock around schools, separate walker development from vehicular traffic, work on unpaved impermanent streets, guarantee passerby security around schools, and further develop traffic stream.
Al-Kubaisi added that the works did by Ashghal’s Street Tasks and Support Division group incorporate the development and improvement of streets with the most noteworthy security norms, by giving vehicle leaving regions, building focal islands and small scale traffic circles to manage traffic stream here, notwithstanding the establishment of adequate number of directional signs, street signs, and street markings which are set close to schools to make drivers aware of the presence of a school nearby and to draw the greatest speed line for 30 kilometers each hour.
At school entrances and exits, upgraded and maintained industrial speed bumps with specific specifications are constructed to reduce speed and provide safe pedestrian and special needs crossings.
To guarantee safe passageways for schools situated on central avenues, clear and non-smooth hued black-top strips are introduced to alarm drivers while entering or leaving the school region, alongside clear advance notice signs on streets prompting the schools.
Before finalizing the designs and beginning the implementation phase, Ashghal collaborates with the relevant school administrations to identify safety requirements in these areas. As a result, the comprehensive development works in the areas surrounding each school take approximately three months. With respect to schools under development, including all wellbeing components of encompassing streets is thought of.
Source and cover image credit: Ashghal
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