Almost half of accidents in Abu Dhabi caused by youth

Abu Dhabi - According to traffic reports, speeding and reckless driving were the major causes of accidents among many youths.

Youths between the age of 18 and 30 are responsible for causing 46 per cent of the road crashes in Abu Dhabi, according to a traffic expert.
Col Jamal Al Ameri, executive director of the Saaed Society - a body assisting police in handling traffic accidents in Abu Dhabi, said the lack of family guidance on the importance of following traffic rules and parents not educating children on the dangers of traffic accidents were the major reasons behind young people's involvement in many road crashes.
"Statistics show that young people represent the largest proportion of drivers and many of them lack road courtesy and fail to abide by the law or to take road conditions into account in order to preserve their lives and the lives of other road users," said Al Ameri.
"Tough regulations and penalties have been issued including the recent amendments in the traffic law to curb drivers violating speed and other traffic regulations, and to promote safety on the roads. But the role and responsibility of families to speak to their children about the importance of good manners on roads and dangers of accidents is still lacking."
According to traffic reports, speeding and reckless driving were the major causes of accidents among many youths.
Al Ameri said families need to instil the culture of civilised driving among children, including teaching them good road manners, traffic rules and ethics so they can become better drivers. "There's an important role for the family to promote the culture of good driving and compliance with traffic laws."
The officer noted that it was necessary that parents speak to their children about the culture of road manners, stressing that this culture begins at home as the family unit forms the cornerstone of any healthy society. "Parents should stop giving high-powered vehicles to young children before they get enough driving experience," said Al Ameri.
"Youngsters should be told to avoid speeding and reckless driving to promote safety on roads."
Other causes of traffic accidents among youths are lack of attention and poor concentration of drivers, who are preoccupied with checking their social media notifications on their mobile phones while driving.
Traffic authorities in Abu Dhabi, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, are organising continuous road safety awareness drives in schools and universities to educate the youths about the importance of adhering to traffic laws and the negative effects of accidents.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi