New initiatives to mark GCC Traffic Week

The UAE marked today the 29th GCC Traffic Week with the launch of four community-based initiatives to improve road safety.

By (WAM)

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Published: Sun 10 Mar 2013, 9:39 PM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 9:29 AM

The Week is celebrated this year under the theme “Our Goal is Your Safety”. The event underlines the UAE leadership’s commitment to improve road safety and promote the culture of best traffic practices to deliver its target of zero-fatality by 2013.

Lt. General Saif Al Shafaar, Undersecretary of Ministry of Interior, revealed during the ceremony the four initiatives for those observing traffic rules: the Best Family, Best Labour Complex, Best Young Motorist and Best School. Brigadier General Gaith Hasan Al Zaabi, Director General, Traffic Coordination Department, at the Ministry of Interior, said the Gulf Traffic Week signifies the common goals the GCC member states towards reaching practical, feasible solution to the traffic woes. The Week, he stressed, serves as a renewed call for saving lives, safety and for pooling energies to address repercussions of road accidents, whether in human loss or damage of properties.

Brigadier Eng. Hussein Ahmed Al Harthi, Director of Traffic and Patrols Directorate in Abu Dhabi, said: “Through this year’s GCC Traffic Week held under the theme ‘Your Safety is Our Goal,’ we look forward to working with all segments of society through programs and plans enhancing and developing traffic safety levels. By launching initiatives and setting plans that are in line with the best practices in this field, we support and promote connections with our society and employ the necessary tools and channels congruent with the needs of each segment of society in order to increase the levels of traffic safety in different sectors.”

Al Harthi revealed that the directorate is developing a comprehensive plan called: the Abu Dhabi Integrated Plan (traffic control, education and awareness, engineering enhancements, quick response, and evaluation). In addition, the Directorate is developing human resources to enable them to handle traffic issues professionally.

The event included traffic awareness films and programs highlighting the strategic plans and comprehensive work mechanisms, which aim to elevate traffic safety in Abu Dhabi. This also supports the positive results of the “Together” program that aimed to limit traffic accidents and increased traffic awareness. The increase in traffic awareness resulted in the reduction of traffic accidents by 19% in 2012 compared to 2011.


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