UAE | Traffic and Transport

Road death toll in UAE drops after tough new law takes effect

The road death toll has dropped by 14 per cent since the introduction of the new Federal Traffic Law on March 1, according to statistics released by the Traffic Department of the Ministry of Interior.

  • By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 18:43 March 19, 2008
  • Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: The road death toll has dropped by 14 per cent since the introduction of the new Federal Traffic Law on March 1, according to statistics released by the Traffic Department of the Ministry of Interior.

The department did a comparative study of traffic offences committed during the last two weeks of February and the first two weeks of March. The study was done in all emirates, except Dubai.

Speaking to Gulf News earlier at a press conference prior to the implementation of the new law, Colonel Gaith Hassan Al Zaabi, Director of the Traffic Department of the Ministry of Interior, said the aim of the new law was to reduce the high number of deaths on the roads. The law stipulates hefty penalties and fines.

According to the study between February 17-29 and March 1-14, accidents declined by 10.4 per cent and deaths by 14.3 per cent. Collisions decreased by 11.8 per cent, but accidents involving pedestrians increased by 7.7 per cent.

Accidents involving overturning of vehicles decreased by 36 per cent, and accidents causing moderate and minor injuries by 12.6 and 5.4 per cent respectively. Accidents causing serious injuries increased by 6.3 per cent.

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