Road deaths drop by 13%

The number of people who died in traffic accidents across the country dropped by almost 13 per cent last year.

There were 628 deaths happened in 6,454 traffic accidents in 2012, compared to 720 deaths in 6,700 traffic accidents the previous year. The number of car accidents also dropped, by 3.7 per cent. The number of people seriously injured was dropped by 2.8 per cent during the same period, from 7,808 to 7,586.

The Ministry of Interior said its strategy, which aimed to reduce traffic accident deaths, resulted in a significant improvement in traffic safety indicators countrywide in 2012, with an average of 6.53 deaths per 100,000 residents — which earns the UAE a leading position among the countries of the world.

These figures were announced by Brigadier Gaith Hasan Al Zaabi, Director-General of the Traffic Coordination Department at the Ministry of Interior, in a Press conference recently at the Traffic Coordination Department.

Brigadier Al Zaabi reviewed the achievements made last year with respect to traffic safety. He underscored the significant decline in all traffic indicators, thanks to the police leadership’s directives and its constant follow-up. He said he was expecting, with greater efforts, to reach an average of 5.5 deaths per 100,000 people.

The conference coincided with the ongoing preparations for the GCC Traffic Week events, which will kick off on Sunday morning across all GCC nations.

Brigadier-General Al Zaabi stated that the ministry endeavours to raise the level of traffic safety, in coordination with the competent traffic-related authorities in the state, through its strategy focusing on awareness, revising traffic culture, engineering and road safety, updating legislations and improving medical and emergency services.

Al Zaabi said traffic accidents were a major concern for both security services and the public, despite the decline registered in 2012.

Al Zaabi emphasised the keenness of the Traffic Coordination Department at the Ministry of Interior to reinforce cohesion among all entities and segments of society and provide security and safety for all road users, through its second traffic awareness campaign for this year. “This campaign, which is organised within the traffic week celebrations, is part of the traffic sector initiatives, and embodies the Ministry of Interior’s strategic plan to enhance traffic safety, in cooperation and coordination with the various Traffic and Patrols Directorates across the country,” he said.

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