The Traffic and Patrols Directorate at the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters announced a substantial improvement in the levels of traffic safety during the first half of 2012, as deaths due to traffic accidents decreased by 31%, severe injuries decreased by 10%, traffic accidents resulting in injuries decreased by 11% while deaths among Emirati Nationals decreased by 11%.
Despite an increase of 16% in the numbers of registered vehicles and 22% in the number of drivers, statistics also showed a decrease of 60% in the number of deaths due to accidents on the Abu Dhabi- Sila’- Hamim roads and a 44% decrease in the number of deaths due to accidents, on the top ten most dangerous roads at the Emirate.
In a news conference he held today, Brigadier Eng. Hussein Ahmed Al Harithi, Director of Traffic and Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, shed light on the most significant positive indicators achieved during the first half of this year, noting that they are the fruitful results of the efforts, plans and methods implemented. He pointed out that the number of deaths due to traffic accidents decreased by 31% to 131 cases compared to 191 deaths at the same period last year, while severe injuries decreased by 10%, from 197 to 131 cases.
Deaths among Emirati nationals decreased by 11%, from 47 to 42 cases; pedestrian deaths decreased by 20%, from 41 to 32 cases, while traffic accidents resulting in injuries decreased by 10% from 1180 to 1085 cases. Results also showed a decrease of 44% in deaths on all external roads, a 9% decrease in Al Ain and 58% decrease in the Western Region.
During the press conference, Brigadier Al Harithi showcased the positive phenomena of traffic safety that have been achieved during the first half of 2012, notably the 37% decrease in traffic accidents due to negligence and lack of attention, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the traffic awareness programs. Other positive results, according to Al Harithi, was the 21% decrease in traffic accidents due to over-speeding, which was achieved through a comprehensive strategy to control speed on both internal and external roads in Abu Dhabi; the increase of automated speed control devices and the awareness programs that aim to raise the culture of traffic among motorists.
Brigadier Al Harithi also highlighted the negative phenomena during the same period, which are being studied, in order to develop the proper effective solutions to avoid them during the second half of the year. Such phenomena include an increase of traffic accidents due to crossing the red light and failure to give priority to pedestrians in designated locations. Al Harithi pointed out that automated speed control devices are currently being installed to monitor red-light crossing and over-speeding at roads intersections.
“Among the negative phenomena, we also witnessed an increase in traffic accidents due to failure to leave a safe distance between vehicles, and a high incidence of accidents involving motorists with only 3 to 5 years of experience. Such problems are being addressed in collaboration with the Emirates Driving Company,” he added.
Al Harithi confirmed that the Directorate is very keen to improve the levels of traffic safety in order to reach the “Vision Zero and Traffic safety” by 2030, by implementing a number of methods and initiatives that focus on developing and implementing traffic accidents data mechanisms, increasing traffic control efficiency, increasing the numbers of automated speed control devices, as well as pursuing the exerted efforts that aim to improve traffic safety levels on all roads, in cooperation with the concerned partners.
He shed light on the many initiatives being implemented, including the initiative to reduce deaths rates due to run-over accidents; the initiative to reduce deaths rates on the
