Safer school routes with year-long traffic media campaign rolls out

• The Ministry of Education will provide 1,356 buses equipped with tracking devices to monitor routes, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and enhance student services.

Lieutenant General Sheikh Salem Al-Nawaf, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior and President of the Supreme Traffic Council, chaired the 22nd meeting of the council, with members from various ministries and relevant authorities in attendance, according to Al Anbanewspaper.

At the beginning of the meeting, General Sheikh Salem Al-Nawaf welcomed the attendees and conveyed the greetings of Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Interior. He also extended Sheikh Fahd’s best wishes to the council members for success in their work, encouraging them to continue finding scientific and practical solutions to traffic congestion, particularly as the academic year 2024-2025 approaches.

During the meeting, they discussed several topics on the agenda, including the ministries’ preparations for the new academic year and the mechanism for implementing an awareness campaign in collaboration with the Ministries of Interior, Information, and Education throughout the year.

The General Directorate of Traffic gave a visual presentation, showcasing traffic equipment and outlining a plan with proactive solutions for anticipated traffic jams near certain schools.

The presentation also detailed the plan to deploy administration members, patrols, and motorized bicycles across all roads and schools, as well as cover important sites. Additionally, it highlighted the presence of the Najda Police, Public Security, and other relevant Interior Ministry sectors as per their areas of expertise.

Dr. Nasser Al-Muhaisen, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information, discussed the ministry’s preparations for the new academic year and expressed the readiness of the media to support the campaign in collaboration with the relevant authorities.

The representative from the Ministry of Education also outlined the preparations for the 2024-2025 academic year, noting that the ministry will provide 1,356 buses equipped with tracking devices to monitor routes, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and enhance student services.

He further explained the ministry’s consideration to maintain the same school start times as the previous academic year: 7:15 am for kindergarten and primary schools, 7:30 am for intermediate schools, and 7:45 am for high schools.

At the end of the meeting, Al-Nawaf emphasized the importance of joint efforts to develop practical and scientific solutions to the traffic problem, as well as enhancing cooperation and coordination between various government and civil entities to evaluate all proposals that contribute to improving traffic flow.