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UAE road accidents claim 315 lives so far this year

Abu Dhabi - Over 3,000 people suffered injuries due to traffic accidents this year, compared to 3,447 in the first half of last year.

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Deaths caused by traffic accidents have reached 315 in the first half of 2017, revealed the General Directorate of Traffic Coordination of the Ministry of Interior on Sunday.

Statistics revealed 315 people died in the UAE as a result of traffic accidents in the first half of 2017, compared to 386 deaths in the same period of 2016. The numbers reveal a decrease of 18.4 per cent.

Injuries resulting from traffic accidents also decreased by 12.5 per cent, with 3,015 people injured, compared to 3,447 in the first half of last year.

Traffic accidents in general also decreased in the UAE in the first half of this year, as figures show 2,133 accidents took place, compared to 2,520 in the fist half of last year, a decline by 15.4 per cent (387 accidents).

Brigadier Ghaith Hassan Al Zaabi, Director General, Traffic Coordination General Directorate at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), said the decrease in traffic accidents, deaths and injuries have a lot to do with the efforts and ongoing initiatives by the UAE leadership, the Ministry of Interior and the Police, who are immensely raising awareness about traffic safety.

He pointed out that the aim is to reduce the mortality rate to three per cent per 100,000 of the population by 2021.

Brigadier Al Zaabi also stressed the importance of the recent amendment of the Federal Traffic Law, which came in force across the UAE on July 1.

The recent law amendments aim to further reduce traffic accidents, including those caused by dangerous driving, speeding, not wearing seatbelt, not leaving enough distance between the vehicles, and sudden swerving.

Just on Thursday evening, two Emirati students at the Khalifa bin Zayed Air College, were killed when their Nissan Patrol crashed in Al Ain, due to excessive speed. The students were only 18 years old.

Colonel Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Director of Al Ain Traffic Department, said the young driver was speeding and lost control of his vehicle, which led to sudden deviation and overturning the 4x4 vehicle.

Brigadier Al Zaabi said the cause of traffic accidents in the UAE are closely linked to the increasing population, as well as the increasing number of residents obtaining driving licenses.

However, although the number of drivers is increasing, statistics have revealed accidents are decreasing.

Traffic accidents and deaths 2017

Accidents caused by impact and collision reached 1,389 in the first half of 2017, which is a 15.9 per cent drop compared to last year - 1,651.

Accidents caused by dangerous driving reached 209 this year, compared to 272 in the first half of 2016, a decline by 23.2 per cent.

Moreover, accidents caused by run-overs reached 516 this year, compared to 585 last year, a decrease of 11.8 per cent.

Other accidents, which have not been named, have however increased from 12 last year to 19 in the first half of this year.

Brigadier Al Zaabi said that the sudden swerving comes at the forefront, reaching a whopping number of 406.

318 accidents were caused by not leaving safe distance, while 317 accidents caused by incorrect estimation of distance, 239 for driving without paying attention, 144 accidents caused by entering the road without checking it is clear.
142 accidents were caused by not checking the blindspot and sudden swerving, while accidents caused by other factors, including passing the red light and not giving priority to pedestrians reached 465 this year.

Brigadier Al Zaabi said that sudden swerving has also led to the highest numbers in road deaths, killing 63 people in the first half of this year, while inconsideration for road users caused the death of 56 people, excessive speed killed 37, and not leaving a safe distance between vehicles also resulted in the death of 37 people in the UAE.

Negligence and lack of attention caused the death of 30 people, 18 people were killed for not paying attention to their lanes, 13 deaths caused by entering the road before checking if it is clear, 12 deaths caused by driving on the opposite direction, 11 people were killed and were driving without a license, while 38 were killed on the road for other reasons.

The Director General of Traffic Coordination at the Ministry of the Interior, called on all motorists and road users to abide by the rules and regulations, to drive safely and avoid the risk of injury, or loss of life.

jasmine@khaleejtimes.com