UAE | Traffic and Transport

Deaths in run over accidents decline, says RTA

There has been a 15 per cent decline in the fatality rate of road accidents in the past nine months of this year compared to the same period of last year, announced the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Sunday.

  • By Alia Al Theeb, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 19:35 October 26, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai: There has been a 15 per cent decline in the fatality rate of road accidents in the past nine months of this year compared to the same period of last year, announced the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Sunday.

Meanwhile, two people were killed and another 10 people sustained injuries in separate road accidents, mostly run over accidents, in the past two days.

The RTA revealed that there was a remarkable drop in road accidents since the beginning of this year. During the first nine months of 2008, fatality rate of roads and run-over accidents dropped by 15 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Initial statistics of traffic safety indicators in Dubai during the first nine months of 2008 showed a drop in the number of fatalities from 231 deaths during the same period of last year to 196 deaths this year.

Fatal run-over accidents also dropped by 25 per cent, to 73 cases from 97 cases reported during the same period last year. However, run-over injuries increased by 8 pr cent from to 540 injuries last year to 580 injuries this year.

According to RTA's statement, statistics reflect a clear improvement in traffic safety aspects. Mortality rate per 100,000 of population is likely to drop further to 17 cases during this year compared to 22 cases reported last year. Pedestrian fatalities also made notable fall over the first nine months of 2008 to 73 cases compared to 97 cases reported over the same period in 2007. Most deaths were on free roads and highways with 29 deaths followed by internal roads with 23 deaths and arterial roads with 21 deaths.

Maitha Bin Adai, CEO of RTA's Traffic and Roads Agency, said measures taken by RTA, such as implementation of the highest safety and security standards, awareness campaigns, construction and improvement of key road projects, and completion of pedestrian crossings and fencing on key roads all made substantial contribution to the positive outcomes of traffic safety and drop in road traffic accidents across the emirate.

"RTA strategy aims to sustain the drop in traffic accidents and resulting loss of lives & properties to the lowest rate possible," she said.

Maitha said the Traffic Points campaign launched by the RTA in association with the General Headquarter of Dubai Police last July made substantial contribution towards dropping accidents rate. The campaign sought to educate the public on the Traffic Points System, which was enforced in early March 2008 under the theme "For your safety and safety of others".

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