Motorists need education on road safety, says official

Abu Dhabi: The alarming 20 per cent increase in the traffic death toll for 2007 compared to 2006 is an urgent wake-up call to improve the driving culture of road users.

It is necessary to develop strategies aimed at reducing accidents and improving awareness, said Abdullah Yousuf Al Za'abi, deputy chairman of the Emirates Traffic Safety Society (ETSS).

Altogether 1,056 people were killed in traffic accidents in the UAE in 2007, while the traffic death toll was 878 in 2006 and 829 in 2005.

Addressing members of the society at their annual meeting, Al Za'abi said it is important to raise awareness and understanding of road safety among road users, while also promoting principles of accident prevention.

There were 5 per cent more accidents last year than the year before and 4 per cent more injuries, he said. There was a 14 per cent increase in recorded traffic violations in 2007 compared to 2006.

He said it was important to examine the causes of accidents and to develop efficient strategies to prevent similar accidents.

Al Za'abi reiterated the support of the ETSS in efforts to educate road users.

According to the ETSS there were 27 more deaths among UAE nationals on the roads last year. Dubai police has issued guidelines for safe driving.

Drivers should make sure their vehicles are in good condition before travelling.

Always wear safety belts, adhere to traffic rules, signals and instructions, expect others to make mistakes, keep sufficient following distances, stick to speed limits and understand that the left lanes on highways are not meant for speeding but are meant for overtaking.

Speedsters caught by radar

More than 400,000 speeding offences have been reported in the first quarter of this year.

Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of the Dubai Traffic Department, said in the first three months of the year radars detected 418,885 offences. Radars also caught 1,120 violators of red traffic lights, and 4,023 offences were registered by radar for speeding and reckless driving, 155 for driving on the hard shoulder and 218 involving speeding trucks.

Brigadier Al Zafein said radars contributed to reducing accidents because they force motorists to reduce speed.