Motorbike accidents kill 5 in Abu Dhabi

Motorbike accidents resulted in five deaths and 10 serious injuries in Abu Dhabi last year, according to a top police official.
 
Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate, warning against the dangers of motorbike accidents, has pledged to further increase traffic awareness and control to ensure safety precautions and smooth traffic flow on roads.

Brigadier Khamis Ishaq, Deputy Director, Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate, said that 81 motorbike accidents were reported in Abu Dhabi last year and 62 per cent of those who caused these accidents were young people. And majority of these accidents varied from run-over incidents, collision, and overturning, he added.
 
The leading causes of accidents, Brigadier Ishaq said, were speeding, failure to pay attention to the road conditions, followed by sudden swerving, violating lane discipline, poor riding skills and failure to leave sufficient distance between vehicles, among others.
 
He urged motorcyclists to abide by traffic laws; observe the legal speed limits; observe safety procedures to avoid injuries from accidents; wear a protective helmet and protective fireproof clothing to avoid serious injuries; to ensure their safety by checking the motorcycle’s front and rear lights, as well as the tires and to install labels that reflect light.
 

 
Brigadier Ishaq also warned against irresponsible behaviours by some motorcyclists who ride without licence plates or against traffic, performing dangerous reckless stunts on main roads and streets or inside residential areas, as well as creating disturbance by fitting motorcycles with illegally modified amplifiers which increase engine’s speed and sound.
 
He added that the Ministry of Interior seeks to implement the vision of the UAE to become one of the best countries in the world in terms of safety and security.
 
He said as part of its traffic safety plan, the directorate is organising traffic awareness lectures and exhibitions for students. About 176 awareness programmes have been organised in the educational sector across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain last year, benefitting 19,588 individuals.
Also, awareness-raising campaigns were organised during ‘Tel Moreeb’ festivals activities.
 
Brigadier Ishaq clarified that the directorate does not seek to prevent young motorcycle fanciers from practicing their hobby, rather these procedures are designed to ensure their safety and to encourage them to ride in safe areas where bikes are permitted.
 
The directorate also organised a traffic village last year in Al Bada touristic region to raise awareness among motorcyclists and quad bike drivers; on gaining bike riders’ trust and answering their queries.
 
He  called upon parents to ensure the safety of their children and to protect them against traffic accidents, by supporting the efforts exerted by the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate. He also encouraged parents to prevent their children from riding their bikes on internal and external roads, or in sandy areas. Parents were also invited to avoid buying small motorbikes or electric bikes for children and to prevent them from riding these bikes on main roads, which is likely to expose them to tragic traffic accidents that may lead to deaths and severe injuries.
 
Brigadier Ishaq also stressed the need to observe the provisions of the Federal Law No. 21 of 1995 concerning traffic and amending laws. As per the law, violators who fail to wear a helmet while riding will receive four black points and a fine of Dh400, and have their bikes confiscated for one month. Bike riders who cause disturbance will be fined Dh500, and a Dh300 fine for towing a motorcycle in an unprepared vehicle and a dangerous manner.
 
Tickets for 5,449 violations were issued to motorcyclists last year, he said, and added that violations included excessive speeding; failure to abide by lane discipline; wrongful overtaking; failure to renew motorcycle registration; failure to produce motorcycle’s official documents; riding without a helmet; jumping red lights; and overtaking on the hard shoulder of the road among others
 

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