Sharjah: Sharjah Police has announced an integrated traffic, community and public awareness plan for the start of the 2026-2027 academic year, with patrols being stepped up around schools and inspections intensified on school buses.The plan is aimed at protecting pupils as they return to classrooms while keeping traffic moving around schools during some of the busiest periods of the day.It brings together several police departments and strategic partners, with measures ranging from increased traffic patrols and enhanced emergency response to school visits and safety campaigns targeting pupils, parents and motorists.Major General Ibrahim Musabah Al Ajel, Director-General of the General Department of Comprehensive Police Stations, said student safety remained a priority, with preparations focused on early coordination between police departments and partner organisations.More patrols around schoolsTraffic patrols will be deployed more heavily at key locations, roads and intersections surrounding schools, particularly during peak drop-off and pick-up periods.Officers will regulate vehicle movement in an effort to reduce congestion and maintain smoother traffic flow as thousands of pupils return to school.The Operations Centre will also increase its readiness to receive reports, monitor developments on the ground and coordinate directly with field teams and relevant authorities.School buses face increased inspectionsSharjah Police will intensify inspections of school buses to ensure they meet required security and safety standards.Drivers will also take part in awareness programmes aimed at reinforcing safe practices when transporting children to and from school.The plan includes the Ma’man service, developed in partnership with the Sharjah Private Education Authority. It allows school bus drivers and supervisors to send an emergency report directly to the police Operations Centre at the press of a button from inside the bus.The system immediately identifies the bus’s location, allowing authorities to dispatch the nearest patrol and respond more quickly to an emergency.‘Our first lesson is safety’Police will also visit schools to welcome pupils at the beginning of the academic year and deliver lectures and programmes covering safety, positive behaviour, responsibility and co-operation.A public awareness campaign under the slogan “Our First Lesson is Safety” will run across Sharjah Police’s digital platforms, targeting students, parents and other road users.Sharjah Police urged parents and motorists to follow traffic instructions around schools and co-operate with officers on the ground.Residents should call 999 for emergencies and 901 for non-emergency cases and inquiries, police said, stressing that keeping children safe as they travel to and from school is a shared responsibility.