AL AIN // Light-controlled pedestrian crossings installed last year along the main school road to slow the flow of traffic are actually encouraging some motorists to drive faster, and more needs to be done to keep children safe, parents say.
The two-kilometre stretch of Khaled bin Sultan Street between Hazza bin Sultan Street and Zayed al Awal Street is home to nearly a dozen English and Arabic schools. On weekday mornings and afternoons thousands of students arrive from all parts of Al Ain by car, bus, and taxi. The municipality installed four traffic lights before the start of the school year, but with large parking lots setting the schools back from the road motorists can still speed by - some of them obviously trying to beat red lights.
"People here don't respect pedestrians or the traffic lights," said Cristina Vieira, a parent from Brazil. "The police should be here in the mornings and afternoons patrolling the streets to slow people down."
Emilita Riefstahl, 40, whose daughter attends Al Ain English Speaking School, agreed.
"I tell my daughter not to cross the street because I've seen many cars speed up when the light turns yellow so they don't have to wait when it turns red," she said.
However, Al Ain Traffic Police do have patrols already assigned to Khaled bin Sultan Street, said Lt Mabkhoot Saleh al Kutbi.
"There is one patrol car and two motorcycles that patrol the street and parking lots during school hours," he said. "Parents' claims that there are no patrols are baseless. In addition to the patrols assigned to the schools area, other patrols do cruise down the street at all hours of the day. Anyone seen running a red light or speeding will be issued a citation. We take pedestrian safety very seriously, especially when children are involved."
Speed bumps would also help, say parents.
"That will force drivers to slow down regardless of whether the light is red or green," said Mrs Riefstahl.
Mahmoud Haja, the principal of the Palestine Private School, agreed.
"People are speeding by the lights," he said. "It's not only that, if one car stops or reverses along the road it's dangerous, and there will be a collision sooner or later. The issue is not just Khaled bin Sultan Street, but also the side street that borders the school. All streets surrounding the schools are congested at times and death traps at others."
Wendy Pi, a Canadian picking up her children from Al Ain English Speaking School, is more concerned about the children who walk out on the street to flag down a taxi or wait for a bus.
"So what happens is a row of taxis builds up, and I fear that someone will crash into the back of one that just picked up a student," she said. "The police should be here behind the row of taxis with their lights flashing to warn oncoming traffic that the lane is obstructed."
Several schools along Khaled bin Sultan Street have taken measures to ensure the safety of their students. The Al Ain English
Speaking School has four security officers who act as crossing guards, but they are powerless to control motorists on the street.
Mohammed al Shamsi, 16, a student at Al Sanawbar School, would like to see schools adopt a pedestrian traffic light.
"The schools should have two people at each of the four lights along the street," Mr al Shamsi said. "One would be a crossing guard with an orange flag who will walk the children across the street and the other one should have a video camera and video the cars that run the red lights or speed, and give the tape to the police."
A motorist who was observed jumping a red light on Khaled bin Sultan Street, and who would not provide his name, said he did not stop because there were no children at the crossing.
"I have seen the children pushing the button to turn the light red just for fun and not to cross," he said. "Maybe they think it's a funny game to play, but it wastes my time. So the kids also are part of the problem that make people run the lights."
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