New campaign launched to cut UAE road deaths

CRASH CAMPAIGN: The UAE has launched an initiative to curb the number of deaths on its roads. (Getty Images)

A new campaign has been launched in the UAE to improve road safety, just a day after it was revealed that Abu Dhabi's death rate on the roads was one of the world's worst.

The national Salama Traffic Awareness Initiative was launched on Thursday in the UAE capital by Lt. General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the minister of interior.

The death toll on the nation's roads has reached alarming figures and road accidents have become the second largest cause of death in the UAE, news agency WAM reported.

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.

Salama will be launching campaigns covering the highest road safety risk factors including high speeds and use of seat belts, as well as a safety "check-list" for motorists to adher to.

Speaking at the launch event, Colonel Gaith Al-Zaabi, director of Traffic at the Ministry of the Interior, said: "Preserving security and the safety of people and their belongings are of the pillars of the Ministry's role.

"The Ministry will be applying many steps to improve traffic safety - aiming to reduce the percentage of road crashes and the consequential loss in life and material, by increasing traffic awareness among road users."

The safety drive is being led by the Emirates Foundation, and is supported by Shell, Emirates Driving Company, the Ministry of the Interior and the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD).

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