Abu Dhabi starts campaign to curb motorbike accidents

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Traffic Police have launched an awareness campaign to prevent motorbike accidents in the emirate in line with a plan that was initiated by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said a senior police officer.

"The alarming number of motorbike accidents in the emirate has prompted us to intensify the campaign," said Major Ahmad Al Neyadi, Head of Media and Public Relations Department at Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police, at press conference yesterday.

Speed rules

The campaign, which started on December 31, 2008 will continue until February 1 , 2009.

Speaking to Gulf News on the sidelines of the press conference, Al Neyadi said 196 motorbike accidents (involving both two wheelers and quad bikes) were reported in the emirate in 2008.

"They [the accidents] caused 9 deaths, 25 serious injuries, 92 moderate injuries and 70 minor injuries."

The campaign will urge people to wear helmets while riding their motorbikes and respect the speed limit.

The official said most of the riders are youngsters and accidents causing their death or serious injuries affect the human resources of the nation.

Traffic police will use all avenues including bike racing competitions to be held in the emirate soon to spread awareness.

Warning

"We will distribute brochures and pamphlets of the campaign to the participants and audience at the bike racing [competition] to be held in Al Ain and Al Gharbia," said Al Neyadi.

Meanwhile, the police have warned people who hold driving licenses not to hire quad bikes on rent for the use of others who do not have a driving license.

"Many of the accidents involving the quad bikes in the desert were caused by minors who don't have a driving license," a senior traffic police official said.

There are clear rules and regulations against this and the traffic police will strictly implement them as part of the awareness campaign, said Al Neyadi.

"We will involve the people who give quad bikes on rent so that they will be aware of existing rules and regulations," he said.

"We will give them the pamphlets and brochures so that they can distribute them to their customers."