ABU DHABI // Residents are being invited to propose ideas on making the roads safer or reporting traffic offences and dangerous driving.
The Saaed Society to Reduce Traffic Accidents and the Traffic and Patrols Directorate of the Abu Dhabi Police launched “The Community is a Traffic Cop” initiative during a Ministry of Interior majlis in the capital at the weekend.
The initiative aims to promote community dialogue and solicit the public’s views about traffic safety issues, according to Col Jamal Al Ameri, executive director of the Saaed Society.
Other objectives include improving road users’ behaviour, enacting traffic laws and safety standards, raising public awareness, and providing road safety education.
Participants at the majlis, hosted by Hamed Al Kaff Al Hashemi, suggested engaging members of the public by urging them to report reckless and careless driving to the police.
They also recommended reinforcing the private sector’s role in raising awareness about traffic safety, preparing a questionnaire about traffic issues, and setting up traffic signals on pedestrian crossings.
Abdulrab Al Hemeiri, a 42-year-old civil servant, welcomed the initiative. “It’s a very good campaign. There’s a need to raise awareness among motorists and pedestrians about road safety issues,” he said.
“I’m concerned about pedestrians crossing at undesignated areas, drivers not giving way to pedestrians, speeding in residential and commercial blocks, and tailgating, which can be tackled with publicity campaigns and enforcement.”
Forty-eight pedestrians were run over and killed last year, down from 54 in 2014, according to Abu Dhabi Police.
The number of deaths caused by speeding in the emirate fell 27 per cent last year from 2014. The number of serious injuries caused by speeding fell 49 per cent.
Public awareness campaigns on road safety are most effective if supported by law enforcement and linked with other initiatives, experts say.
“By linking new messages through a variety of mediums – video, TV, radio and social media – to existing campaigns, road users benefit from seeing road safety as a continuum,” said Dino Kalivas, chairman of the driver education and training committee at the International Road Federation.
Effective campaigns could reduce the numbers of fatalities and injuries if carried out successfully, he said.
“Greater success can be achieved if many partners are included and the wider community having ownership of the initiatives, engaging with schools, driving schools, workplaces, transport companies, media organisations and authorities,” Mr Kalivas said.
“Effective engagement means all people in the community can see they have a responsibility.”
Salaheddine Bendak, an associate professor of industrial engineering at the University of Sharjah, stressed the importance of the stricter enforcement of traffic safety and greater commitment from government and non-government agencies.
“Obviously such campaigns should be a long-term commitment. Otherwise, the desired outcome cannot be achieved,” he said.
rruiz@thenational.ae
