(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Illegal parking near schools are now infuriating parents and motorists. Parents of school children, who attend both public and private schools, have voiced their concerns about other parents who double-park their cars near school compounds during peak hours. The practice of some parents parking their cars on the school's footpaths is also a common sight causing traffic jams during school arrival and dispersal time.
The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) said three communities would get new parking grounds as per a five-year implementation plan. The RTA officials said that they construct parking provisions for schools that have completed construction, and during the construction of roads projects in various communities.
Eng Maitha Bin Udai, CEO of Traffic and Road Agency at the RTA said: "The following communities will be included in the five-year implementation plan: Al Khawaneej 2, Oud Al Muteena 2, and Nad Al Shiba 4."
However, parents remain agitated and said more needs to be done by the traffic police to stop parents from parking on footpaths, since the provided space is not enough to accommodate all parents and students. Some parents also said that parents with four-wheel drive vehicles are 'common culprits' of parking on the footpath. Many schools have high numbers of students who opt out of using school transport. Martin D'souza whose daughter is a student of Gems Winchester School, Dubai said: "Over 100 parents drop and pick their children in their cars. There is not enough space in these parking lots to accommodate all the parents." Parents like D'souza also suggested that it would be good if people show some civic sense while picking and dropping their kids.
One such parent Sibte Arif, whose daughter attends Dubai Mirdif School, said: "This is a common sight near Algeria street, in front of Dubai Modern Education School. During morning and afternoon hours, this is a common sight near Mizhar (Khawaneej Road). There are few schools in the area where I have observed this practice by parents."
He said: "If parents do this, how will their kids learn civic sense? Parents need to teach their kids to be a good and responsible citizens of Dubai."
Another parent Mohammed Arif said: "My kids go to one of the Gems schools in Dubai and I get stuck in traffic very often during drop off and dispersal. I've noticed that people sometimes double park and wait for their children for a long time causing massive traffic jams."
With an exception of few schools, most of them do not have traffic wardens that can control the smooth flow of traffic outside of schools. "Commotion during arrival and dispersal time is a common sight across the Emirate. This is a well-known issue that RTA continues to observe around the school areas. Enforcement during the drop off and pick up periods must be increased. RTA will coordinate with the Dubai Police to improve enforcement during said hours," added bin Udai.
She recommends the presence of traffic wardens outside the schools, adding: "The presence of a traffic warden facilitates the drop off and pick up process,"
Fines levied
Bin Udai said: "The main aim of RTA is safety, and we try as much as possible to mitigate the negative complaints. However, the fine of double parking in marked areas (Traffic Marking) is Dh200 and the fine for parking on footpaths in parking controlled areas is Dh200."
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