Brigadier Eng. Husain Ahmad Al Harthi, Director of Abu Dhabi Police Directorate of Traffic and Patrols revealed a substantial improvement in performance indicators regarding traffic safety in Abu Dhabi.
This improvement was fulfilled despite a 6% increase in vehicles, and 9.6% increase in the number of licensed drivers. The performance indicators witnessed a significant improvement; the number of deaths has decreased by 13% for each 100,000 members of the population, indicated by 376 deaths in 2010 to 334 deaths in 2011. Regarding the ratio of fatalities to vehicles, there was a 16% decrease in deaths for each 10,000 vehicles, while there was a 19% decrease in deaths for each 10,000 drivers. There was a 21% decrease in crash accidents for each 100,000 individuals of the population.
Al Harthi stated in a press conference held today in Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel, Abu Dhabi: “Accomplishing these positive results encourages us to redouble our efforts to develop road safety thereby contributing to the preservation of human lives. These efforts translate into enhanced partnerships with all facets of society.”
Al Harthi added: “The improvement of traffic safety indicators in Abu Dhabi is a result of applying an integrated system for traffic safety. Through this system, traffic accident data was automated and improved; it was activated as the main service to determine procedures, and support initiatives to improve levels of road safety.”
Al Harthi highlighted the initiative of decreasing deaths on Abu Dhabi-Al Sela' highway, and Hamem highway, which decreased by 26%. He also mentioned the initiative to decrease deaths resulting from crash accidents that contributed in a 21% decrease, as well as an initiative to decrease deaths on the ten most dangerous roads in Abu Dhabi, resulting in 6% decrease. Patrols are spread on the roads focusing on accident-prone areas ensuring to verify levels of traffic safety in cooperation with major partners such as the Municipalities and the Transport Department. The patrol will manage speed control and increase the number of speed radars.
He remarked: “The road and traffic awareness strategy includes the application of a comprehensive plan related to traffic awareness. The awareness initiative includes 12 programs; messages to be spread to the public were determined after analyzing accidents and violations data. This strategy is in line with the target of each awareness program month after month. There will be programs to enhance road behavior and urge the importance of adhering to rules and regulations of traffic, plus increasing awareness and general education.”
He continued: “A total of 331 awareness lectures were organized in different schools and associations. We also participated in organizing 30 traffic exhibitions benefitting 31,000 people.”
Traffic Education Patrols were created to execute field visits to different roads to improve the level of awareness among drivers, give recommendations and guidance, activate traffic awareness among families, and enlighten the public in open places through organizing lectures to define the patrol and the kind of services extended to the public.
Studies showed the most important reasons for traffic accidents in 2011 are due to insufficient distance between traveling vehicles, running red traffic lights, entering roads without considering on-coming traffic, speeding, neglect and carelessness, and loss of control of vehicle due to tire blowouts. New regulations and procedures are being carried out to avoid these reasons in 2012.
In tandem with these efforts, Traffic Week is launching many dedicated innovative initiatives that aim to limit traffic accidents. These initiatives were led by t