Seven deaths were recorded during the first quarter of this year in the Western Region (Al Gharbia), Abu Dhabi compared to 25 deaths during the same period of last year. This indicates a 72% drop in road deaths. Serious injury rates resulting from road crashes during the first quarter last year to the same period this year dropped from 15 to seven; indicating a 40% reduction.
Statistics of the Traffic and Patrol Department, Abu Dhabi Police, has shown an improvement in the road safety levels in Al Gharbia Region during this specific period.
Statistical indicators have been attributed to the most prominent causes for the road crashes in Al Gharbia region during the first quarter of the year. Most often, crashes were the result of negligence, lack of attention, sudden deviation, tire explosions, high speed, failure to check for oncoming traffic before entering a main road, and failure to leave sufficient space between vehicles.
The Department has emphasized the attention given by the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic Safety Strategies to improve the traffic safety levels in Abu Dhabi pointing out that Al Gharbia Region is witnessing a major development leap adding to its various existing touristic attributes. This development is witnessed through the launch of many annual festivities such as the Liwa Date Festival, the International Tal Mireb Sand Race, in addition to the Abu Dhabi –Al Sala Highway that is considered to be a “vital artery” connecting the nation to other surrounding countries.
Major Suhail Sayah Al Mazroui, Head of Al Gharbia Traffic Department, Abu Dhabi Police, referred to the application of an integrated system in order to improve levels of traffic safety in the Al Gharbia Region in partnership with the region’s municipality. He also discussed the reinforcement of traffic supervision among all roads, deployment of fixed and mobile radars, in addition to the implementation of integrated strategies for speed management under which the speed limit of vehicles and lorries has been determined on the International Abu Dhabi – Al Sala highway.
Al Mazroui further added that the credit to what has been achieved to improve the level of traffic safety in the Western Region goes to the efforts exerted to reinforce the educational level of traffic safety for drivers, and drivers of Abu Dhabi – Al Ghuweifat highway, through the distribution of awareness brochures and road travel manuals. Additionally, efforts to provide drivers with the information and directions necessary to facilitate their road travels as well as places for available services was also a factor in the region’s success. The guidance and directions regarding tire safety, legal loads, documents required to extract international driving passes, as well as customs book and safety procedures for bikers also deserved noteworthy mention.
Al Mazroui stressed on the concentration of field and awareness efforts to avoid risks caused by heavy trucks, which result in deaths and injuries on the Abu Dhabi – Sala highway through restricting their speed limits to 80kph. Additionally, truckers are to determine their travelling routes on the external roads in case of low level of visibility due to fog and weather fluctuation, until the vision becomes clear.