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Call to intensify road monitoring during holidays

Dr Yousouf Al Hossani, a specialist in public health and community medicine and researcher on traffic at the Sydney-based George Institute for International Health Studies, who conducted the study in Abu Dhabi, has called for intensifying traffic inspection campaigns at night and on holidays across the capital.

Greater emphasis should be laid on young motorists as they were found to be more reluctant to fasten the seat belt, he said. There was less awareness regarding the rules on seat belts prior to the traffic education campaign launched by the Abu Dhabi Police recently, said Al Hossani. The study said 48 per cent of motorists use seat belts within the city, 23 per cent in rural areas and 30 per cent on highways. After the awareness campaign conducted by the Abu Dhabi Police, the percentage of motorists using seat belts shot up to 62 in the city, 42 per cent in rural areas and 45 per cent on highways, Dr Hossani said, quoting figures from his research.

Following the campaign, the percentage of vehicles with plain glass windows in the city rose to 79 from 67 before the awareness drive, the study said.

• UAE