The Directorate General of Policing Operations' department, represented by Traffic and Patrols Directorate intensified its traffic patrols to reduce crossing the red light and urge motorists to pay attention, slow down at traffic signals and adhere to traffic laws and regulations in order to avoid accidents resulted from crossing the red light.
Lt. Colonel Mohammed Rashid Al Shamsi, Head of the Traffic Control Department at the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate stated: “This initiative is part of the media campaign recently launched by Abu Dhabi Police and includes a series of traffic and security awareness initiatives under the motto ‘YOUR SAFETY’. The campaign is carried out by the Directorate General of Policing Operations' department, in collaboration with the Security Media Department at the General Secretariat of the Office of His Highness the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.”
“The initiative, organized in collaboration with the Public Relations Department at the Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Abu Dhabi, was prepared according to traffic accidents indicators in Abu Dhabi City during the first quarter of the year. The indicators showed 65 traffic accidents caused by red light crossing which resulted in 6 deaths and two severe injuries,” he added.
Lt. Colonel Al Shamsi pointed out that Tathqeef Patrol and other traffic patrols takes part in the initiative by handing out awareness brochures and offering traffic advice to motorists on the risks of crossing the red light signal and the need to pay attention and slow down upon approaching traffic signals. “The initiative will also include intensifying traffic control using civil and police patrols to identify and stop offenders,” he said.
Al Shamsi stressed the importance of respecting traffic lights, to stop and wait when the lights turn red and move only when the light turns green. He reiterated that respecting traffic lights prevent serious traffic accidents from happening, as many accidents happens when vehicles cross the red light and collide with other vehicles coming from the other direction, resulting, in most cases, in deaths and severe injuries.
Lt. Colonel Al Shamsi called on the society members to support the exerted efforts that aim to secure their safety, by adhering to traffic law regarding the red traffic signal.