School bus fees in Dubai are expected to double with the new regulations set by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), reports said.

The RTA has issued a ‘Dubai School Transport Manual’ which has introduced many reforms in the existing transportation service including a complete change in the bus design and colour and mandatory training of drivers and assistants.

The RTA has given a ‘flexible’ grace period of six months to all schools and transportation companies to change as per the new guidelines or face strict penalties, Essa Al Dossari,CEO of the Public Transport Agency (PTA), was quoted as saying by  Khaleej Times.

Ali Mohammed Al Jasim, director of the Licensing Agency, said all school bus drivers as well as bus assistants will have to go through a mandatory training and test at the Public Transport Agency (PTA) following which they will be issued with a PTA permit.

“This permit makes them eligible to drive and manage the buses. The regulations apply also to the drivers and attendants who have been in these jobs for a long time. If a driver or attendant fails the test, he will not be allowed to handle the school bus,” he said.