Traffic Week a stepping stone to world’s safest roads

Officials said the UAE hopes to be among the safest countries in the world for traffic in about five years.

Lt Gen Saif Al Shafar, undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, centre, launches Gulf Traffic Week at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, to encourage safer driving. Christopher Pike / The National

ABU DHABI // Gulf Traffic Week started on Sunday with a hard-hitting video of a car crash, safety messages, and the determination of officials to push standards as high as possible.

“We are hoping to be the world’s safest country on the road, with fatalities of no more than three per cent, in about five years,” said Lt Gen Saif Al Shafar, undersecretary at the Ministry of Interior.

Speaking at the campaign launch at Yas Mall, he said: “Today, the Ministry of Interior uses all forms of social media during the GCC Traffic Week to raise awareness.

“Alhamdulillah, the initiative has so far been successful and there have been a lot of favourable responses from the public.”

The theme, Your Choice Determines Your Destiny, is aimed at all road users.

Abu Dhabi Police’s Traffic and Patrols Directorate also recognised the achievements of outstanding male and female traffic police officers, the emirate’s best male driver, best special needs driver, best taxi driver, best bus driver, best heavy vehicle driver, and best school at traffic safety.

Traffic safety has improved in Abu Dhabi over the past five years.

Between 2010 and this year, deaths from run-over accidents decreased by 54 per cent, while other accidents were down by 40 per cent.

Traffic fatalities fell by 35 per cent, while injuries were down by 40 per cent.

Brig Hussain Al Harthi, director of Traffic and Patrols, attributed the improvements to a long term safety plan to cut traffic fatalities to 3 per cent per 100,000 inhabitants by 2021.

The Traffic Week awareness programmes focus on three messages, to be broadcast on the radio – the importance of seatbelts, the risk of exceeding speed limits, and using mobile phones when driving.

At the launch, the video X-Ray Vision Story highlighted reckless driving that resulted in a crash.

The Security Media Department of the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Education Council, launched Messages of the Heart through TV, radio and social networking sites.

Pupils aged 11 to 14 sent messages to their parents and neighbours on the need to respect traffic laws and save lives.

“Hopefully, with the right awareness campaigns, we will be able to reach the 3 per cent target,” said Lt Gen Al Shafar.

“No doubt, the radar cameras, whether fixed or mobile, are one of the major deterrents to reckless drivers.”

Brig Al Harthi said the police were to launch a smart traffic systems' centre at the Traffic and Patrols Directorate.

“Abu Dhabi has very advanced radar that detects wanted cars and vehicles with expired registration, and sends data to the operations room in real-time,” he said.

“This allows us to inquire whether vehicles are wanted or have registrations which have expired or withdrawn.”