Anyone who has spent a few years in Abu Dhabi would have noticed an improvement in road safety. This is not just an anecdotal impression. As The National reported yesterday, deaths on the emirate's 10 most dangerous roads dropped by 23 per cent last year from 2013. This is a wonderful achievement. Many deaths have been avoided and terrible pain and suffering averted.
The reasons are clear: speed cameras have proliferated and road policing is tougher. More importantly, general attitudes towards road safety are starting to change as motorists have been confronted by the consequences of bad driving, thanks in part to initiatives such as The National’s Road to Safety campaign.
Despite the progress, 120 people died last year on our roads. This is an appalling number, and nobody can be sure that the number of fatalities will continue to decrease. We must remain steadfast in the battle for better road safety. We all have a stake in it.
