Dubai: With more residents travelling during summer, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has kicked off a road safety awareness campaign, urging motorists to be cautious to avoid accidents.
The campaign targets long distance road travellers as well as students at public libraries and summer camps.
Take ample rest between long journeys, preferably every 200 to 250km of driving, Maitha Bin Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic and Roads Agency said.
“Stop driving if you feel exhausted.”
Keep an eye on the dashboard for important alerts, check tire pressure, avoid overloading, and prevent children from sitting near the doors or in the front seat beside the driver, Maitha added.
She stressed the importance of carrying out comprehensive vehicle inspections to ensure its roadworthiness.
Periodic checks must be carried out to check the safety and soundness of various indicators that alert the driver to any defect or malfunction in the vehicle, she said.
She also cautioned road travellers against ignoring any electrical or mechanical faults in the vehicle and urged them to avoid committing any offence, however small it might seem, particularly those related to overspeeding and dangerous overtaking.
The awareness campaign, which will run for three months, is being held in association with the Ministry of Interior.
RTA has updated the annual booklet of the campaign called “Road Travellers Guide” which is distributed to motorists in several places including Al Ghuwaifat Border Post, Saudi Consulate in Dubai, Automobile and Touring Club – UAE, and RTA Customer Service Centres.
The guide gives answers to questions frequently asked by travellers. It comprises information about vehicle tests to be carried out before starting off, official transactions associated with travelling, personal and practical steps that need to be taken by passengers, important information about the Customs traffic book, international emergency and first aid numbers, basic driver’s information on roads and tyres, driving during changing weather conditions, and how to detect and troubleshoot some vehicle malfunctions.
