Pedestrian fatalities drop 35% in Q1: RTA

The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai reported that pedestrian fatalities have dropped by as much as 35 per cent in the first quarter of this year (2011), and that awareness campaigns oriented to enhance pedestrian safety, particularly among workers, will be continued in order to protect them specifically from traffic run-over accidents.

"Pedestrian safety indicators in Dubai show a huge improvement in the Traffic & Roads Agency's plan for enhancing pedestrian safety and reducing run-over accidents in Dubai. Traffic fatalities resulting from run-over accidents recorded in the first three months of this year were not more than 11 cases compared to 17 cases reported during the same period last year," said Hussain Al Banna, Director of Traffic, RTA Traffic & Roads Agency.

"We will continue with our awareness efforts this year and expect a further drop in pedestrian fatalities; which already dropped from 78 cases in 2009 to 43 cases in 2010. over the past years, RTA took several practical measures and made joint awareness efforts to control pedestrian fatalities; which are amongst the most critical challenges confronting traffic safety specialists.

"Pedestrian traffic fatalities have hit a record low over the last 10 years as the indicator reported last year was 2.8 cases per 100 thousand of population; which compares well with the 4.4 cases recorded in 2009 and even the 7.0 cases that took place in 2007.

"The awareness campaign carried out by the RTA this year started off workers accommodation at Sinapour and covered Al Qouz, Jebel Ali, Al Barsha, Al Qusais schools complex and RTA customer service centers. Several government departments and private businesses took part and contributed to the success of the campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior as part of the educative campaign themed: "Don't terminate your life in an accident" as well as Jebel Ali Police Station, Bur Dubai Police Station and Emirates Driving Institute.

"The Awareness campaign oriented to pedestrian safety, which concluded mid June 2011, focused on educating workers on the importance of being attentive & clearing the road before crossing as run-over accidents result from the lack of judging the suitable timing & place of crossing. The campaign included lectures as well as the distribution of brochures in four languages (Arabic, English, Urdu and Indian), and several mock drills of ambulance & rescue operations during emergency situations in cooperation with the Dubai Civil Defence Department and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services.

"The Traffic & Roads Agency has managed over the past two years to remedy 7 black points witnessing recurrent run-over accidents in certain areas such Al Qouz, Al Wasl, and the service road of Sheikh Zayed Road. The run-over statistics during the first quarter of this year reported no fatalities concentration in certain areas, but rather spread over different areas and that 67% of accidents took place at night," said Al Banna.

He added that the awareness efforts led by the RTA in conjunction with its strategic partners to improve the levels of traffic safety in the Emirate seemed so far successful and moving on the right track according to previous figures and indicators.

"Through its concerned departments and the implementation of traffic safety measures, RTA has been successful in reducing the number of fatalities caused by traffic accidents during the last three years, and the situation improved year after year. Deaths from traffic accidents during the last three years have dipped by 63 per cent in Dubai, i.e. 332 cases in 2007 compared to 152 cases in 2010," he continued.
 
Footbridges:

Hussain Al Banna said that solutions derived from the studies compiled by the Traffic and Roads Agency on pedestrian safety had been turned into technical and traffic projects covering all roads and areas in Dubai. According to him, the most prominent of these solutions was building as many as 56 pedestrian footbridges by the end of 2010, including footbridges linking with the Metro stations together with surface crossing points and speed calming means of all types.

He indicated that speed calming means and warning signage were effectively installed at 300 schools in Dubai and some mosques and hospitals.

"The Agency is in the process of installing and building several footbridges in Dubai during the current year and next year on Bani Yas Road and Abu Bakr Al Siddique Road in addition to two footbridges on Emirates Road and other footbridges on Umm Suqeim Road, Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Mina Road," concluded Al Banna.

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