Abu Dhabi roads death rate 'twice UAE average'

CRASH CARNAGE: Death rate on Abu Dhabi's roads are twice the national average. (Getty Images - for illustrative purposes only)

The death rate on Abu Dhabi's roads is more than twice the national average in the UAE, new figures reveal.

Figures from Health Authority-Abu Dhabi show that the rate of tragedy on the emirate’s roads is running at 37.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 15.7 and is the single greatest cause of death.

By comparison, cardiovascular disease caused 29.8 deaths per 100,000 people in 2007 while cancer was responsible for 21.7 deaths, UAE daily The National reported on Thursday.

This makes Abu Dhabi statistically one of the most dangerous places in the world to be on the road, it said.

“I see road traffic accident victims every day,” Abu Dhabi's chief forensic pathologist Dr Adnan Abbas told the paper.

“People need to know about this. People need education. This is the main cause of death in the UAE. This is the main cause of death among young males, young Emirati males especially.”

Throughout the UAE, a total of 1,056 people died in road accidents in 2007, an increase of 20 per cent on the previous year. Almost 90 per cent of victims are male, most aged between 15 and 35.

Concern over dangerous driving has prompted numerous national and emirate-wide initiatives and police say low-voltage floodlights will be installed on sections of Abu Dhabi’s motorways to improve visibility in foggy conditions.

Col Ghiath al Zaabi, director of the traffic department at the Ministry of Interior, said the Government aimed to cut the number of deaths on the road by 1.5 per 100,000 people each year.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Road Deaths Abu Dhabi
Posted by Robert, Dubai, UAE on Monday 24 November 2008 at 05:29 UAE time


Not suprised to see this aricle. Look how AD drivers in Dubai behave on the roads, no respect for max. speed and the safety of others.

..Import Slick Fastest Cars in the world and then cry..
Posted by kaptain, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 20 November 2008 at 14:22 UAE time

Why isn't there any law yet that imported cars wouldn't exceed the speed limit of 140 km/Hour?
If the law is introduced, the sales would decrease and so would their distribution sales.

Having the fastest cars on the road doesn't add to the privileges of the country. It's not a majestic achievement, really. Had it been a benchmark, even Europe would have rushed to build 10 Km tall towers.

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