On Monday, schools reopen, and with it comes the expected surge in traffic congestion around school districts and adjacent roads. Transportation experts and drivers attribute this bottleneck to the practice of some parents stopping directly in front of schools to drop off or pick up their children. Dubai resident Ferdinand Fraga observed, "School zones turn into choke points during the morning and afternoon. Even a brief stop to drop off or pick up kids can lead to congestion, as one stopped car encourages others to do the same, eventually creating long lines of vehicles. Worse still, they sometimes occupy two to three lanes."
Dr. Mostafa Al Dah, founder of MA-Traffic Consulting, emphasized the dangers of this practice, stating, "It's unsafe to leave your car in the middle of the road, even on a service road. It's also a traffic violation, and parents doing this in front of schools could face fines up to Dh1,000 and six black points on their driving license in Dubai." He stressed the importance of road discipline among parents, suggesting early drop-offs and using designated parking areas as better options.
Implementing staggered school entry times is another solution, as seen at Bloom World Academy in Al Barsha South, where a 9am start helps reduce traffic and stress. John Bell, the founding principal, highlighted the benefits of this approach for family life. Similarly, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi has implemented a traffic management strategy with dedicated parking and crossing points, supported by a proactive security team.
Encouraging the use of school buses and carpooling can also alleviate rush hour congestion. Thomas Edelmann, founder of RoadSafetyUAE, recommended on-site guards to prevent illegal parking and advocated for additional parking spaces. He also advised parents to arrive early, use carpooling, and educate their children on road safety and proper conduct around schools.
