Road deaths in UAE drop 6.3% in 3 months

Deaths and injuries caused by road accidents in the UAE during the first quarter of the year decreased by 6.3 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively.

According to statistics released by the Traffic Coordination Department at the UAE Ministry of the Interior; road accidents that occurred in the same period this year dropped by 4.3 per cent compared to the same period of 2013.

Brigadier Gaith Hassan Al Zaabi, Director General of the Traffic Coordination Department at the Ministry of Interior, attributed the decline in traffic accidents and the related deaths and casualties to the efficiency of the measures adopted by the ministry, and the efforts of the Police General Headquarters and the directorates of traffic and patrols in the UAE to improve traffic safety.

Statistics showed that the total number of deaths recorded during the first quarter of the year was 181 compared to 192 during the same period last year, a decrease of 11 deaths, that is, 6 per cent. The number of casualties resulting from traffic accidents during the first quarter of the year was 1,984, compared to 2,048 during the same period of 2013, a decrease of 64 injured, that is,. 3.1 per cent. Statistics also noted a fall 4.3 per cent (58 accidents) in traffic accidents nationwide to 1,295 accidents during the first quarter of the year, compared to 1,353 during the same period last year.

According to the statistics, 50 fewer hit and collision accidents were recorded during the first quarter of the year, which witnessed 797 accidents compared to 847 during the same period of 2013, a decrease by 5.9 per cent nationwide. Run-over accidents sank by 8 per cent (27 less accidents) during the first quarter of the year, which witnessed 309 accidents, compared to 336 during the same period of 2013. Swerving accidents, however, rose slightly by 3.9 per cent (seven accidents) to 161 accidents during the first quarter of the year from 155 during the same period of 2013. Other accidents jumped to 28 during first quarter of the year from 15 during the same period in 2013.

Statistics showed that sudden lane changing was the main cause of accidents in the first quarter of the year, leading to 258 accidents. The second cause was misjudgment of road users (176 accidents). In the third place came failure to leave sufficient safety distance between vehicles (135 accidents). Over speeding was in fourth place, causing 113 accidents. Negligence and lack of attention came fifth with 100 accidents. Entering a road before making sure it is clear caused 94 accidents, followed by jumping red traffic signals (86 accidents). Failure to comply with lane rules caused 81 accidents. Not giving the priority to pedestrians caused 45 accidents, whereas 320 accidents happened for miscellaneous reasons.

Statistics showed that some of the causes of accidents leading to death were sudden lane changing (45 deaths), over speeding (30 deaths), misjudgment of road users (25 deaths), and negligence and lack of attention (18 deaths). Failure to leave sufficient distance between vehicles caused 10 deaths, followed by failure to comply with lane rules (7 deaths). Jumping red traffic signals caused 3 deaths, while 39 people died in miscellaneous accidents.

Statistics showed that sudden lane changing was the main cause of different kinds of casualties, leading to 396 casualties, followed by failure to leave sufficient safe distance between vehicles, (248 casualties).

Misjudgment of road users caused 178 casualties, followed by jumping red traffic signals which caused 156 casualties. Over speeding caused 152 casualties, whereas entering a road before making sure it is clear caused 148 casualties. Failure to comply with lane rules caused 140 casualties. Negligence and lack of attention caused 133 casualties, whereas 391 people were injured in miscellaneous accidents.

Brigadier Gaith Al Zaabi urged motorists and road users to adhere to traffic rules and regulations in order to save themselves and others from accidents and related injuries and loss of lives and properties, and keep themselves and others safe.



 

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