Traffic campaign kicks off March 12

Dubai: A week-long campaign that aims to raise road safety awareness and traffic dangers among young adults and the broader community will be launched from March 12.

The event is taking place under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

It also aims to promote responsible driving habits to reduce the number of accidents and tragedies on UAE roads caused by reckless and irresponsible driving.

This will be attended by the UAE Minister of Higher Education, Shaikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan.

The campaign closely follows the introduction on March 1 of the new Unified Federal Traffic Law which has put in place hefty penalties for serious traffic offences as well as a black points system to penalise drivers.

Mohammed Bin Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE and a rally driving legend in the Arab world, is giving his full backing to a major new safe driving initiative.

He will deliver a keynote address at the official opening of the Al-Noor Safe Driving Campaign at Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology, and afterwards discuss road safety issues with an audience of more than 300 students.

“The new traffic law is an important new initiative, but it's equally important that we do more to educate young people in particular about safe driving and not just rely on bigger fines and penalties to cut down on dangerous and reckless driving,'' said Sulayem, the 14-times FIA Middle East Rally champion.