Abu Dhabi: The rate of traffic accidents across the UAE has gone down from 6,700 in 2011 to 5,124 in 2013, marking a 23.52 per cent decrease, an Abu Dhabi Police official said.
Such a drop has caused the fatality rate by traffic accidents to go down from 720 deaths in 2011 to 651 deaths in 2013, which marks a 9.58 per cent decrease. The figure represents a fatality rate of 6.52 deaths per 100,000 people.
Meanwhile, injuries sustained from traffic accidents went down from 7,808 cases to 7,743 cases – a 0.83 per cent decrease.
Brigadier Gaith Hassan Al Za’abi, Director-General of the Directorate General of Traffic Coordination at the Ministry of Interior, attributed the drop to the ministry’s strategy and traffic laws. He hoped that the ministry would accomplish a rate of 5.50 deaths per 100,000 people through its strategic plan for 2014-2016, until it reaches three deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
Brig Al Za’abi noted that the main reason for traffic accidents last year was sudden drifting off the road by vehicles, which resulted in 1,048 accidents. Leaving inadequate distance between vehicles caused 573 accidents, while entering a road before checking oncoming traffic caused 409 accidents.
Speeding resulted in 368 accidents, while negligence and lack of attention by drivers resulted in 366 accidents. Statistics revealed by the Abu Dhabi Police showed that running a red light resulted in 365 accidents, and not abiding by designated lanes resulted in 334 accidents.
In a bid to reduce traffic accidents and spread awareness, the ministry will be holding a campaign under the slogan, “Our Aim is Your Safety.” The campaign will see collaboration of various sectors concerned with traffic safety.
