ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Monday, September 22nd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

Traffic accidents registered in the UAE over the first eight months of 2014 have decreased by 10.7 percent, according to statistics released by the Traffic Coordination Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI).  There have been 3,170 accidents so far this year, as compared to the 3,549 accidents registered during this same period in 2013. Statistics also show a 0.2 percent decrease in the mortality rate when compared to the same period of the current year.

Brigadier Ghaith Hassan Al Zaabi, Director General, Traffic Coordination Department, Ministry of Interior, said, “According to the indicators and due to the decrease of road accidents, the death rate of accidents has slightly decreased over the first eight months of this year with 463 deaths,  as compared to 464 deaths in the same period last year.”

Road accident injuries decreased by 7.4 percent over the first eight months of 2014 with 4,602 injuries, as compared to 4,969 injuries during the same period last year.  

Brigadier Al Zaabi attributed the decrease in traffic accidents and injuries to the effective measures taken by the MoI and the efforts of the police general headquarters and Traffic and Patrols departments and directorates across the country. He said, “These efforts are in line with the Ministry’s efforts to improve traffic safety, secure our roads, create a safe traffic environment based on international standards, and to strengthen partnerships with entities concerned with traffic safety in the country.”

Brigadier Al Zaabi explained, “All types of road accidents, together with their subsequent injuries, deaths, and traffic fines, are the natural result of the increasing use of vehicles across the UAE, which is closely linked to the growing population increase and urban development. Meanwhile, traffic departments across the country bare the major burden of training and testing thousands of people who wish to obtain their driving licenses, as this is one of the most important requirements of economic and social development.”   

“Each type of traffic accident that has been registered over the past eight months this year, has decreased when compared to last year. Accidents involving impacts and collisions have decreased by 14.5 percent with 1,989 accidents this year, as compared to 2,326 accidents in 2013,” Brigadier Al Zaabi said.  

Brigadier Al Zaabi said, “Registered accidents involving swerving have recorded a significant decrease of 11.5 percent with 369 accidents this year, as compared to 417 accidents in 2013.  There were 744 recorded run-over accidents with a decrease of 2.7 percent when compared to the 765 accidents during the same period last year, which is due to the successful efforts made to reduce these occurrences.  Other types of accidents have increased by 65.9 percent over the first eight months of 2014, with 68 accidents as compared to 41 accidents during the same period last year.”

Brigadier Al Zaabi stated that sudden lane changes were the main causes of traffic accidents over the first eight months of 2014 which caused 589 accidents. The second main cause of accidents was due to the misjudgments of road users with 406 accidents. “The third main cause of traffic accidents was due to the failure of road users to leave a sufficient amount of distance between vehicles which caused 350 accidents. Negligence and lack of attention is the fourth main cause, with a recorded number of 265 accidents. Speeding is the fifth main cause with 258 accidents. Entering a road before making sure it is clear caused 232 accidents, followed by the failure to comply with the rules of the lane which caused 189 accidents. Running red lights caused 187 accidents, while drinking under the influence of alcohol caused 150 accidents. Failure to give priority to crossing pedestrians caused 107 accidents,” he said.

Brigadier Al Zaabi provided further details, “Sudden lane changes were also the main causes of mortality which caused 113 deaths.  Speeding came second, causing 62 deaths, followed by the misjudgment of road with 48 deaths. The failure to leave a sufficient amount of distance between vehicles caused 41 deaths, while negligence and lack of attention led to 39 deaths. The failure to comply with the rules of the lane caused 34 deaths, whereas entering a road before making sure it is clear caused 19 deaths. Not giving the priority to crossing pedestrians caused 19 deaths.”

Brigadier Al Zaabi said, “Sudden lane changes were the main causes of various kinds of injuries which injured 914 persons, and failure to leave a sufficient amount of distance between vehicles caused 576 injuries. Running red lights caused 406 injuries, coming in third, while the misjudgment of road users came fourth with 402 injuries. Speeding caused 390 injuries, whereas entering a road before making sure it is clear caused 353 injuries. The failure to comply with the rules of the lane led to 347 injuries, whereas negligence and lack of attention caused 303 injuries.”

Brigadier Al Zaabi said, “It is very important to harness the full potential of various departments, institutions, and segments of society to cooperate with the Traffic and Patrols departments across the country. When this is done, there is a decrease in traffic accidents and subsequently less human and material losses. Addressing traffic issues is a shared responsibility that requires the joint efforts of all sectors of society.”

Brigadier Al Zaabi called upon motorists and road users to abide by the rules and regulations of traffic for their own safety and for the safety of others. This advice is in order for road users to prevent hurting themselves or others in traffic accidents, which could result in injuries or loss of life and property.

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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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