Police zero in on traffic black spots

Traffic accidents are down in Abu Dhabi, and police are determined that the capital's roads will continue to become safer.

ABU DHABI // The results of a study of the emirate's roads will be used by traffic police in a plan to further decrease the number of accidents leading to deaths and serious injury. A similar study of traffic trends conducted in 2007 led police to a strategy they claim was a main reason behind a 12 per cent fall in deaths and serious injuries on the capital's roads in the first 11 months of last year, from the same period in 2007.

Police will increase patrols and radar on several roads found in the latest study to be where most violations and accidents occur. The study classifies the roads according to what types of violations contributed to accident rates. Capt Haji Ahmad al Bloushi, the traffic support manager at Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrol Department, said: "In 2008, we worked according to this strategy which included increasing patrols in areas where in 2007 a high number of accidents took place.

"We focused on the principal violations which were the main causes of accidents and deaths in 2007, and this helped significantly in reducing the volume of accidents." Of the first study's three tiers, speeding topped the list in the first tier, followed by with driving through red lights, suddenly swerving and refusing to give a priority to pedestrians. The second tier was headed by driving without a licence and having poor tyres; while drink-driving and overtaking led the third tier.

"Streets like Musaffah and Hamdan tend to have a high number of accidents involving pedestrians run over, while streets like Al Khalij al Arabi and Al Qurm tend to witness speeding," Capt al Bloushi said. "Our role was to focus on such streets as opposed to streets that had minor accidents, without, of course, ignoring other roads. It's logical to have more number of patrols on Al Matar Road, for example."

Capt al Bloushi also stressed the importance of raising public awareness as a tool to combat bad driving. "It is a major factor behind accidents reduction," he said. Traffic police make daily visits to places such as shopping malls and labour camps, distribute brochures in Arabic, English and Urdu, and give direct advise to people. "It was easy to achieve the strategy. We have statistics, we know the places where accidents occur," Capt al Bloushi said. "And we not only achieved the strategic plan, which is to reduce accidents by 4 per cent each year, we reduced it by 15 per cent, which not only reflects success but outstanding performance as well."

He said the department plans an even better result this year. "We increased radars and inspection campaigns on all levels, such as the campaigns aimed at jaywalkers on the main highway in Musaffah and Hamdan street, where there was a high number of accidents involving pedestrians." Police patrolled in plain clothes and unmarked cars for the first time last year to make it easier to catch traffic violators.

They also sought to co-ordinate closely with concerned parties, including the Emirates Traffic Safety Society, a group based in Abu Dhabi. Brig Gen Hassan Ahmad al Housani, the general secretary of Emirates Traffic Safety Society, said dozens of deaths, most of them among the youth, occur every year making it a serious national problem and one civil groups should be involved in. "Education is key. The driver who is aware of safety measures would save themselves as well as others a great deal of risks," Brig Gen al Housani said.

Apart from informing the public about road risks, especially young people in schools, the society seeks to keep drivers up to date with traffic regulations. Col Hamad Adil al Shamsi, head of the Abu Dhabi Police traffic and patrols department, had attributed the lower numbers to traffic law changes. The black points system introduced in March last year imposed tougher penalties on traffic offences, especially those that result in major accidents.

Col al Shamsi said studies of road trends are conducted every week and that data were sent to all departments. He said police attention to statistics was intensified last year, with many staff trained abroad in conducting surveys such as the traffic tiers study. The department took several steps to raise staff qualifications through training and bringing in foreign exchange experts. "We are not competing with ourselves, nor with GCC states only; we are in fact competing with the world in setting an example of road safety. This aim is realistic and concrete, shown in the results achieved so far," Col al Shamsi said.

The jaywalking battle began with a brochure campaign. After a few months, the police added a Dh200 fine for jaywalking. Col Tariq al Ghoul, the Musaffah police chief, said people needed to learn how to behave in traffic, and that the fine was an important part of the process. "Musaffah culture is mostly composed of labour workers who are uneducated and lack knowledge of rules for crossing the road," Col Ghoul said. "As they do not drive, they cannot estimate the dangers of jaywalking.

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