ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Sunday, April 27th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

Road Traffic deaths and casualties registered in the UAE, during the first quarter of the year decreased respectively by 6.3% and 3.1%.

According to statistics conducted by the Traffic Coordination Department at the Ministry of Interior; traffic accidents that occurred in the same period this year decreased by 4.3% compared to the same period of 2013.

Brigadier Gaith Hassan Al Zaabi, Director General of the Traffic Coordination Department at the Ministry of Interior, attributed the decrease in traffic accidents and the related deaths and casualties to the efficiency of the procedures adopted by the Ministry, and the efforts of the Police General Headquarters and the directorates of traffic and patrols in the UAE to improve traffic safety, through the Ministry’s strategy to control road security, and create a safe traffic environment according to the relevant international standards in.

Statistics showed that the total number of deaths recorded during the first quarter of the year was 181 compared to 192 during the same period last year, a decrease of 11 deaths, i.e. 6%. The number of casualties resulting from traffic accidents during the first quarter of the year was 1984 casualties, compared to 2048 during the same period of 2013, a decrease of 64 injuries i.e. 3.1%. Statistics also showed a fall in traffic accidents nationwide to 1295 accidents during the first quarter of the year, compared to 1353 during the same period last year, a decrease of 58 accidents, i.e. 4.3%.

According to the statistics, 50 less hit and collision accidents were recorded during the first quarter of the year, which witnessed, 797 accidents compared to 847 during the same period of 2013, a decrease by 5.9% nationwide. Run-over accidents decreased by 8% (27 less accidents) during the first quarter of the year, which witnessed 309 accidents, compared to 336 during the same period of 2013. Swerving accidents however increased slightly by 3.9% (7 accidents) and reached 161 accidents during the first quarter of the year, compared to 155 during the same period of 2013. Other accidents were 28 during first quarter of the year, compared to 15 during the same period in 2013.

Statistics showed that sudden lane changing was the main cause of accidents in the first quarter of the year, leading to 258 accidents. The second cause was misjudgment of road users (176 accidents). In the third place came failure to leave sufficient safety distance between vehicles (135 accidents). Over speeding was in fourth place, causing 113 accidents. Negligence and lack of attention came fifth with 100 accidents. Entering a road before making sure it is clear caused 94 accidents, followed by jumping red traffic signals (86 accidents). Failure to comply with lane rules caused 81 accidents. Not giving the priority to pedestrians caused 45 accidents, whereas 320 accidents happened for miscellaneous reasons.

Statistics showed that some of the causes of accidents leading to death were sudden lane changing (45 deaths), over speeding (30 deaths), misjudgment of road users (25 deaths), and negligence and lack of attention (18 deaths). Failure to leave sufficient distance between vehicles caused 10 deaths, followed by failure to comply with lane rules (7 deaths). Jumping red traffic signals caused 3 deaths, while 39 people died in miscellaneous accidents.

Statistics showed that sudden lane changing was the main cause of different kinds of casualties, leading to 396 casualties, followed by failure to leave sufficient safe distance between vehicles, (248 casualties). Misjudgment of road users caused 178 casualties, followed by jumping red traffic signals which caused 156 casualties. Over speeding caused 152 casualties, whereas entering a road before making sure it is clear caused 148 casualties. Failure to comply with lane rules caused 140 casualties. Negligence and lack of attention caused 133 casualties, whereas 391 people were injured in miscellaneous accidents.

Brigadier Gaith Al Zaabi stressed the importance of using the full potential of all directorates, organizations and different sectors of society, and their cooperation with the directorates of traffic and patrols nationwide, to reduce traffic accidents and related human and financial losses. He pointed out that facing traffic issues is a joint responsibility that requires a collaboration of the efforts of all sectors of society.

He requested motorists and road users to adhere to traffic rules and regulations in order to save themselves and others from accidents and related injuries and loss of lives and properties, and keep themselves and others safe.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

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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
The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department
Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media
Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317
E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

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