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Ministry to study various aspects of tragic accident

ABU DHABI - The Interior Ministry will study all the aspects of the tragic accident which killed three people and injured 347 on Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway on Tuesday.

Lieutenant-General Saif Abdullah Al Shafaar, Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, told Khaleej Times that the study will help the ministry to benefit to the maximum by determining the positive points that made the police handle the tragedy successfully.

The successful handling led to a decline in the number of deaths since the ambulances and rescue personnel were able to administer first aid and other treatment to the injured at site of the accident.

Lt-Gen. Al Shafaar said the quick transfer of the injured to the hospitals was one of the most important factors which averted more casualties.

The Under-Secretary pointed out that the cause of the accident was driving at very high speed and inattentiveness in fog conditions, but that does not mean that the speed limit on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai road be reduced from the current 140 km/h.

He emphasised that if the senior officials felt that the speed limit reduction was the appropriate solution, then the decision to reduce the speed limit will be complied with.

He added that the most important thing was the security and safety of human beings, which is the main goal for the development and expansion of roads and installation of radars and various devices.

He stressed that the ministry will take many decisions in the coming days to ensure that such accidents do not happen again.

Meanwhile, Major Nasser Khadim Al Kabi, Director of the Department of Information and Relations in Abu Dhabi Police, said there was no theft of valuables belonging to those involved in the accident.

The police has preserved all the lost-and-found items and they will be returned to their owners in accordance with the established procedures, he said.

He urged those who had lost anything in the accident to approach the police department with the description of the items as well as proof of ownership.

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