ABU DHABI // A national road safety plan focusing on pedestrians, speeding and young drivers is needed to further reduce the traffic toll, an expert says.

“What this country needs is a comprehensive, co-ordinated and integrated road-safety strategy to reduce accidents and cut road fatalities,” said Dr Abdulilah Zineddin, a road safety specialist in Abu Dhabi.

“The top officials must adopt and support the implementation of such a strategy.”

The country also needs a committee to design and oversee a national strategy for safety.

“The commitment to enhance road safety should come at the highest government level, particularly the minister level positions,” he said.

Road safety has been steadily improving in the capital, a sustainability report from the Department of Transport says.

“The department continues to integrate safety into the road transport system through education campaigns that teach safe driving practices,” the report said.

Last year the number of injuries from road accidents dropped by 9.7 per cent, from 3,539 in 2011. Fatalities decreased by 21.3 per cent over the same period, from 334 to 263.

The number of pedestrian deaths decreased by 16.5 per cent last year, from 80 to 67 – an improvement for the third consecutive year, the report said.

The department has been addressing the issue with traffic safety and security programmes that build a culture of safe driving and driver responsibility through education and enforcement.

These are being implemented in coordination with Abu Dhabi Police.

The department initiated a joint safety committee to monitor the situation within the emirate, bringing together Abu Dhabi Police, the Urban Planning Council (UPC), the Department of Municipal Affairs, Health Authority Abu Dhabi and Emirates Driving Company.

A code for motorists was developed, outlining the basic rules and regulations for surface transport, including public transport, taxis and main roads in the emirate.

These include reading road signs, guidance in case of an accident or breakdown, sticking to the speed limit, changing lanes, child restraints, wearing seatbelts and driving through roundabouts. It also provides information on traffic breaches, fines and black points.

"Aligned with the Urban Planning Council's Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design Manual, this road user code also illustrates that a well-designed street network provides safety for all modes of transport, and that street connectivity enhances capacity that allows a smooth traffic flow," said Ibrahim Al Hmoudi, transport planning department manager at the UPC.

The UPC designed the manual to address the needs of Abu Dhabi’s growing population and the over-arching principles and objectives of Vision 2030.

Its design priorities stress the need to provide a safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists as the most vulnerable users of urban streets, and improve the ability to walk through the city safely, sustainability and public health.

“The manual aspires to establish Abu Dhabi as a model for global mobility, flexibility in destination access, efficiency in time savings, and enhancing livability,” Mr Al Hmoudi said.

“It’s all about improvement of the quality of life of Abu Dhabi residents while keeping road safety concerns at the core.”

rruiz@thenational.ae