Buckle up! 60% road deaths in Abu Dhabi from lack of seatbelts

Sixty per cent people killed in road accidents in Abu Dhabi during the past nine months were not wearing seatbelts, according to traffic authorities.

The Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate said 54 per cent of injuries from January to September 2017 resulted from people not buckling up. Traffic authorities said they recorded 39,956 offences related to seatbelts during this period.

The drivers were penalised for failing to buckle up, or not ensuring everyone in their car wore seatbelts.

Brigadier Ahmed Al Shehhi, deputy director of the Traffic and Patrols Directorate, stressed the importance of buckling up. "Seatbelts are vital in protecting drivers and passengers from serious injury and death in cases of accidents."

According to the amendments made to the federal traffic law, the fine for drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts or a child not in car seat is Dh400 per passenger. Additionally, four black points are registered on the driver's licence.

The police said the fines against offenders are intended to force drivers and passengers to use the seatbelts so as to protect their lives.

Motorists, residents praise seatbelt law

Studies have shown that the use of a seatbelt reduces death risk by 40 to 50 per cent in case of an accident for passengers in the front seats and between 25 to 75 percent for passengers in the rear seats.

Did you know?

>54 per cent road injuries in 2017 from failure to buckle up

>40-50 per cent risk of death reduced for front passengers by seatbelts

>Dh400 fine per passenger for not wearing seatbelts

ismail@khaleejtimes.com