ABU DHABI // Deaths caused by traffic accidents fell by nearly a quarter in Al Ain following a number of successful road safety campaigns, officials said yesterday.
There were 45 fatalities during the first six months of this year, compared with 58 during the same period last year, a drop of 22 per cent.
MORE UAE NEWS: Our pick of today's top local news stories
UAE seeks 'VIP' Black Hawks with air conditioning The UAE is considering buying five new Black Hawk helicopters for transporting officials. Read article
Rugby player on life support after freak accident Jonathan Beeton, a rugby player in the UAE national team, is critically ill in hospital after he hit his head and neck in an accident on a dhow. Read article
UAE free to release Zimbabwean diamonds Gems with 'ambiguous' legal status have been held by Dubai Customs since they were seized last year. Read article
Col Hamad Al Baloushi, the head of traffic police for the external Abu Dhabi regions, attributed the decrease to consistent road-safety awareness initiatives.
Officials said that in an effort to continue lowering the number of fatalities, they were monitoring accidents and assessing the causes in order to find solutions.
Meanwhile, 242 citations were issued in the first six months of this year to motorists who exceeded 200kph .
Maj Mohsen Saaed Al Mansouri, the deputy head of Al Ain's traffic and patrols unit, said such behaviour would not be tolerated.
"The vehicles of those motorists were seized immediately," he said.
In the first four months of this year, more than 300,000 speeding citations were issued to motorists in Al Ain.
In an effort to reduce speeding, traffic police are erecting signs that indicate both the speed limit and the enforcement limit at which the speed cameras will catch offenders.
In addition, 903 fines for reckless driving were issued during the first half of this year, Maj Al Mansouri said.
"Our aim is not to collect money, but rather to secure the emirate's safety and protect public property," he said. "Many of these offences are associated with a traffic accident."
Maj Al Mansouri urged parents not to allow their children to drive without a driver's licence, adding that such measures were a "national obligation".
