Abu Dhabi goes digital to curb road mishaps

Abu Dhabi has set up an electronic data analysis network for traffic accidents as part of an ongoing campaign to identify the main causes of road mishaps and seek solutions to the problem, according to an official report.

The Abu Dhabi Municipality said it had completed the project in collaboration with the Traffic Police and the road patrols section at the general police directorate.

“This is a vital project, which is intended to collect all data related to traffic accidents with the aim of upgrading road safety, identifying the main causes of accidents and finding solutions to curb the problem,” said Abdullah al Shamsi, Roads and Infrastructure Director at the Municipality.

“Once the information is collected, the municipality and the police will work together to analyse and study it so we can pinpoint the key causes of road accidents and the places where they often take place.”

He said the new system would allow authorities to improve safety and lessen risks on dangerous roads, where major accidents take place.

The network is part of an extensive drive by Abu Dhabi to curb road mishaps following a surge in such accidents over the past few years despite tough penalties.

The drive includes the installation of speed cameras, intensified patrols and introduction of stiffer penalties against offenders.

Police figures showed a staggering 2.22 million traffic offences were committed in the Capital last year, including nearly 1.62 million related to excessive speed.

Abu Dhabi, which has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, also has one of the highest road accident rates.

Police sources have attributed the high accident rate to non-compliance with traffic rules, mainly speed driving, jumping the red signal, reckless driving and other offences.

Traffic campaigns have failed to deter drivers and cut accident rates, which totalled around 10,500 in Abu Dhabi and the other emirates last year.
 

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