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Lesser road accidents occurred in 2007

ABU DHABI — Fatalities caused by road accidents in the UAE dropped to 829 in 2007 from 878 in 2006, a senior Interior Ministry official has disclosed.

Last year saw 6,813 accidents killing 829 persons and injuring 10,526 compared to 8,443 accidents claiming the lives of 878 and injuring 10,674 in 2006, said Colonel Ghaith Al Zaabi, director, Traffic Department, Ministry of Interior.

“However, despite the decline in road accidents and fatalities in 2007, we have observed a marked increase in run-over accidents which registered about 1,802 cases, accounting for 26 per cent of the total mishaps against 57 per cent for accidents which involved collision and knock-down, standing at 3,884,” Al Zaabi noted.

The figures covered the period from January 1 up to the third week of December 2007.

Nationality-wise, he indicated that 25 per cent of fatalities and injuries were of UAE nationals in 2007. Some 186 nationals were killed in road accidents last year.

This percentage is high and has dangerous implications on the local community, he cautioned. Second in line were Asians representing 49 per cent (462) and Arabs who formed 19 per cent (118), he told Arabic daily Al Bayan.

Emirate-wise, he explained that accidents reported in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah stood at 2,223, 1,779, 804, 264, 166, 1,023, 554 respectively killing 289, 282, 103, 23, 15, 60 and 57 respectively.

In these accidents 3,537, 2,851, 1,146, 425, 227, 1,499 and 841 were reported to have suffered various injuries respectively.

On causes of traffic accidents, Al Za abi said poor and improper assessment of road users was the major factor of accidents in 2007 causing 26 per cent of accidents, followed by dangerous entry into the road before making sure it is free and safe (11 per cent).

Non-compliance with traffic lane, excessive speeding, failure to leave enough space between vehicles and running red signal were also blamed for causing road accidents.

The director of traffic announced plans to reduce traffic accidents at federal level by 5 per cent in 2008 using the ultra-modern infrastructure in the country, eliminating traffic congestions and launching extensive awareness campaigns on traffic rules and safety.

According to ministry 2007 statistics, there were 1,742,886 vehicles running on uae streets. There were 2,349,651 holders of driving licences of whom 160,595 for women.

He also announced that the revised federal traffic law will go into force by next march. The refined executive regulations of the traffic law will be ready soon and will be enforced by March, he said, adding that the competent higher authorities had already given their consent to the draft.

Under the new version, he noted, the black points system, which is now in place in Dubai, will be applied along with severe punishments including jail terms and hefty fines not less that Dh20,000 for serious and gross offences.

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