ABU DHABI // There have been almost 25 per cent fewer pedestrians killed in the emirate in the first five months of this year compared with the same period last year, according to figures released by the Abu Dhabi and Traffic Patrols Directorate.
Sixty five pedestrians were killed on the emirate's roads up to the end of May compared with 86 during the first five months of last year.
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There was more encouraging news with the announcement that road accidents involving pedestrians dropped 11 per cent, with 219 up to the end of May compared with 246 in the same period last year.
Brig Hussein Al Harethi, the head of the directorate, attributed the improved numbers to the stringent efforts by the traffic police, including the formation of a committee intent on reducing pedestrian-involved accidents and the introduction of a year-long awareness campaign that urges pedestrians to cross at designated crossings and motorists to slow down at these crossings.
In 2010, 77 per cent of pedestrian accidents involved private vehicles, with 40 per cent attributed to negligence and lack of attention, and 20 per cent to speeding.
A close partnership with the Abu Dhabi Municipality to build nine pedestrian bridges in high-density areas are also part of the traffic police's efforts to curb the number of accidents, Brig Al Harethi said.
The pedestrian bridges, two in Abu Dhabi city, two in Musaffah, two along the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain road and three along the Abu Dhabi-Dubai road, are expected to be completed by September.
A law introduced last month by the Ministry of Interior that links traffic fines to the Emirates identification card also prevents jaywalkers from leaving the country until they pay their fines.
