The Traffic and Patrol Department in Abu Dhabi Police organized traffic awareness dialogues with motorists in Abu Dhabi. These dialogues focused on providing a number of tips and guidelines such as warning about using mobile phones while driving the vehicle, risks of excessive speeding, lack of attention, sudden deviation, failure to leave a sufficient distance with other vehicles and texting when driving.
Lt. Colonel Jamal Salim Al Ameri, Head of Public Relation Department at the Directorate explained: “The awareness programs are implemented in collaboration with the Traffic Control Department to increase traffic awareness regarding the common reasons behind traffic accidents. This initiative comes in line with the society communication methodology, as part of the second awareness campaign launched by Ministry of Interior under the title ‘Till When?!’ which spans over three months, in order to promote community solidarity to reduce traffic accidents.”
Lt. Colonel Mohammed Rashid Al Shamsi, Head of the Traffic Control Department at the Directorate said: “The awareness programs included an open dialogue between members of traffic patrols and motorists in Abu Dhabi, regarding the risk of using mobile phones, reading and texting messages while driving which would block traffic, reduce the motorists’ concentration and eventually lead to serious traffic accidents, casualties and injuries.”
He added: “These programs included the distribution of traffic awareness publications, urging drivers to commit to traffic laws and regulations, reconsider that their life and soul are much more precious than to be wasted by answering a phone call, particularly since traffic accidents occur in less than a second.”
A number of motorists praised this initiative. Saeed Al Swaidi, an employee, stressed the need for all the segments of society to join the efforts to put an end to traffic accidents which cause a lot of casualties due to lack of attention, talking on the phone, texting or reading messages.
Another employee, Saif Darweesh Al Mazroui, stated: “It is very important for awareness programs to focus on students; traffic culture should become an integral part of their education in order to prepare more traffic-conscious generations.”
For his part, Mohammed Al Mansouri, an employee, commended the diligent efforts of the Ministry of Interior, and called on society to support these efforts. He added that telecommunication companies have been sending awareness messages, particularly on smart phones and social networks on the internet, to promote awareness against the risk of using mobile phones while driving.
Faisal Khalid insisted that using mobile phones while driving is a negative thing with serious consequences because it hinders concentration. He urged motorists to change their driving behavior, commit to traffic laws and regulations and to increase awareness among the various components and institutions of society.
In his turn, Waid AL Shaer, also an employee, noted that he observed, while driving his vehicle, that some motorists block traffic by failing to commit to traffic laws and regulations, such as crossing the red light, talking on the mobile phone or texting while driving.