ArabianBusiness.com - Middle East Business News
Sunday, 08 November 2009 10:39 UAE time

YOUR DIRECTORY /

| Share |

12% fall in Abu Dhabi road casualties

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  on Monday, 05 January 2009
CRASH CASUALTIES: The number of deaths, injuries on roads in Abu Dhabi fell by 12 percent in 2008. (Getty Images)

The number of people killed or seriously injured in traffic incidents in Abu Dhabi fell 12 per cent last year, latest figures reveal.

The decrease was attributed by police chiefs to tougher laws introduced last March, including a points system of penalties for motoring offences.

According to the police statistics, 738 people died or were seriously injured in road accidents to the end of November last year, down from 839 in the comparable period of 2007, UAE daily The National reported on Monday.

Story continues below
advertisement

Casualties among Emiratis fell by 23 per cent, from 262 in 2007 to 201 in 2008, while the decrease among expats was 12 per cent, from 607 to 537.

Col Hamad Adil al-Shamsi, head of the Abu Dhabi Police traffic and patrols department, told the paper: “The adjustments to the traffic law had a positive impact on decreasing the rate of casualties, which enhances the effectiveness of the five-year road safety strategic plan that aimed to decrease deaths and serious injuries by 20 per cent."

Under the new system, motorists face higher fines and risk car and licence confiscation for some offences and a certain number of black points.

He added: “We increased traffic inspection campaigns and patrols to catch violations such as dangerous overtaking of other vehicles, crossing red signals...Many fines were issued, for safety reasons and not for the goal of fining people.”

Police confiscated 982 driving licences in the emirate from motorists who had exceeded the 24-point limit since the point system was introduced, the Arabic newspaper Emarat al Youm reported.

The new statistics show that traffic casualties among those aged under 18 decreased from 111 in 2007 to 93 in the first 11 months of 2008. Among those aged 18 to 30, cases dropped from 337 to 312.

Among those 31 to 45, the number fell from 273 to 212 and for those 46 to 60, cases fell from 119 to 101.

| Share |


READERS' COMMENTS

Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.

Click here to post a comment


Add your Comment
All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *
(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments


Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.


MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM

SHARE PRICE CHECK

RELATED LINKS

  1. Abu Dhabi Police»

 EMAIL ALERTS

  1. Abu Dhabi Police

  2. Transportation


Tell us your story

READER COMMENTS

  1. The tipping scandal 13
    08 Nov ' 09 at 09:06
    After reading this article I was in a Dubai mall last night having a late supper and asked the waitress when she handed me the card...   More  »
  2. UAE to be among top tourist hubs in 5 years - survey 06
    08 Nov ' 09 at 09:05
    It just boils down to one thing- There are countries who try to market their toursim potential. And there are countires who do not...   More  »
  3. Abu Dhabi to ban all plastic bags in shops by mid-2010 06
    08 Nov ' 09 at 09:44
    In most countries where plastic has been banned, there has been a step back to paper bags at supermarkets used in the same quantities....   More  »

Read all user comments >

Gitex 2009

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM