More than 315,000 students have returned to schools across Qatar this week for the start of the new academic year. 

With a significant percentage of children traveling to schools via buses in Qatar and a higher number of cars on the roads, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has urged all road users to take extra precautions to ensure the road safety of all.

According to experts at HMC, the start of the new school year is considered as one of the most hazardous times of the year for child pedestrians.

In addition to the increase in traffic, lack of awareness poses a threat to child pedestrians as well as those traveling in vehicles.

Dr. Rafael Consunji, Director of the Hamad Injury Prevention Program (HIPP), the community outreach arm of HMC’s Trauma Surgery Section, said the beginning of the new school year signals a change to the daily routine of many road users. pic.twitter.com/Pycluuinum

— Hamad Medical Corp. (@HMC_Qatar) August 27, 2019

Director of the Hamad Injury Prevention Program (HIPP), Dr Rafael Consunji, and assistant director of HIPP, Dr Aisha Abeid, of HMC’s Trauma Surgery Section, said the commencement of the new academic year brings a change to the daily routine of many road users.

All drivers must be more aware of new road environments and keep the speed controlled, particularly at this time of the year, the experts stressed.

“The new academic year beginning is the most dangerous time on neighborhood streets and in school zones for child-pedestrians, passengers, and bus riders. There is an increase in the number of children walking and riding bikes. Driving quickly through these areas is prohibited and speed is restricted in school zones. Still, students face the threat of accidents,” said Dr Consunji. 

Dr Abeid urged the school bus and van drivers to pay special attention to students crossing the roads and walking along the streets.

“Everyone should extend care towards children and provide them a safe road environment,” she said. 

“Always walk around your vehicles before backing out the vehicle or leaving a garage" the experts stressed.

“We caution parents to be realistic about their child's pedestrian skills. Children are impulsive and less cautious around traffic. It is recommended that only children who are older than ten years of age walk or bike to school without adult supervision,” said Dr Consunji.

The HMC experts further suggested that if children walk or use a bike to go to school, it is also a good idea to provide bright-colored clothing, or reflectors so motorists can easily see them.

"Make sure your child’s bike and helmet are the correct sizes. He or she should be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground and their helmet should fit snugly, sitting low on the forehead. Helmets should always be worn with the chin strap fastened,” they highlighted.

“While traveling in vehicles, all children must be properly restrained in the rear seat. They must be in a car seat that is appropriate for their age and size and properly restrained, including when traveling on a school bus (if available),” they said adding that it is important to review school bus safety such as waiting for the bus to stop before approaching the curb.

“Boarding and exiting should be at designated locations and the children should remain seated while the bus is in motion,” they underlined.

Parents need to be role models for their children and they should follow the required safety measures including wearing a seat belt, not texting or talking on mobile phones while driving, wearing the helmet when biking and obeying traffic rules like driving under the speed limit and only crossing the road at designated crosswalks, Dr Consunji mentioned. 

Last week, HMC had also shared some tips on what an ideal school bag should be like, under the theme 'Protecting Our Children's Health.'

--

Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.

Instagram - @qatarliving

Twitter - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living

Cover Image: for illustrative purposes only