One of the most Serious Causes of Traffic Accidents in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

According to figures released by the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate, as many as 15 deaths and 19 serious injuries occurred during the period starting on January 1st, 2014 until March 17th, 2014 on the internal and external roads in Abu Dhabi in 86 road accidents caused by drivers suddenly swerving while on the road. The directorate added that this practice is the main and most serious factor causing deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents across the emirate.

Colonel Hamad Nasser Al Blushi, Head of Peripheral Regions Traffic Department at the Traffic and Patrols Directorate General of Abu Dhabi Police, urged motorists to follow traffic laws and regulations; to abide by the use of side indicator lights in case they want to change their lane; and to leave sufficient distance between other vehicles on the same lane to enable them to move to the other one, and thus avoiding traffic accidents that occur due to sudden swerving.

Moreover, he stressed the risks of lane changes without using side indicator lights and urged motorists to always make sure the lane is clear before changing lanes, to check the blind spot by looking over their shoulder and to not rely on rearview mirrors; to steer gradually into the new lane while maintaining the same speed; and to make sure they use side indicator lights, because they are an effective way to  communicate with other people on the road their intentions to change lanes or directions.

“The Abu Dhabi Police intensifies traffic control on roads, especially external roads, through traffic patrols and the patrols of civil traffic investigation, in addition to control using radars to reduce all kinds of violations that lead to traffic accidents,” he said. He also noted that the number of violations registered on internal and external roads during the same period amounted to 1653 violations due to sudden swerving.

Colonel Al Blushi also said that those efforts aim to reduce all causes and serious violations leading to traffic accidents that result in deaths and severe injuries. He continued  that a large number of drivers do not use indicator lights once they get their driving licenses, in spite of their importance as an effective way to show an intended change of direction to other drivers on the road, giving them plenty of time to react and adapt to the signal, especially those coming from behind.

Furthermore, he highlighted the efforts aimed at reducing the causes leading to traffic accidents. These efforts include intensifying lectures as well as Abu Dhabi Police’s traffic program to reduce traffic accidents, titled “Together”, during the month of February. These measures  fall in line with the directorate’s awareness plan for the year 2014 and includes all drivers from private and public sectors, with a view to raise the level of traffic culture among them regarding the need to use indicator lights and avoid changing lanes without paying attention to other vehicles coming from the same direction.

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

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