Who causes most accidents in Abu Dhabi?

Deaths caused by traffic accidents in Abu Dhabi have declined 17 per cent in the first nine months of this year - from 229 cases reported during the same period last year to 189, according to Brigadier Hussein Ahmed Al Harithi, Director of Traffic and Patrols Directorate.

Brigadier Al Harithi indicated that young drivers between the age of 18 and 30 accounted for the highest rate of traffic accidents, followed by Asian drivers aged 31-45.

“The number of fines issued against Asian drivers has reached 39 per cent of the total number issued fines, while the number of violations committed by young Emirati drivers has reached about 27 per cent. Therefore, the awareness programmes have been intensified for both categories of drivers,” added Brigadier Al Harithi.

The Director of Traffic and Patrols Directorate called upon all motorists to respect speed limits in order to maintain their own safety as well as that of other road users'. This will avoid serious traffic accidents due to overtaking that often result in deaths and severe injuries. 

He indicated that speeding has topped all other violations with 79 per cent of the total number of violations, which has led to the increased number of traffic accidents due to speeding.

The number of severe injuries has also decreased by 31 per cent, from 270 to 184, while traffic accidents have decreased by eight per cent.

Accordingly, statistics show that the traffic safety levels have improved by 33 per cent as a result of the efforts achieved by the directorate during the past five years to reduce the number of traffic accidents, while fatalities decreased by 29 per cent and severe injuries by 24 per cent.

Brigadier Al Harithi said, “The continued improvement in traffic safety indicators in the emirate during the first nine months of 2014, in spite of the increase in number of registered vehicles by eight per cent, is a result of the directorate’s efforts in implementing a comprehensive traffic safety plan, raising awareness, implementing an integrated speed management strategy, increasing enforcement and automated traffic control devices, and in developing a system to identify the motorists who run red lights.”

“During the specified period, speeding was among the main causes of traffic accidents, causing about 17 per cent of accidents; neglect and lack of attention and sudden swerving resulting in15 per cent of accidents.

“Among others, failure to maintain a safe distance between vehicles caused 12 per cent of accidents; jumping red lights caused nine per cent of accidents and blown tires caused two per cent,” he added.

He also called upon drivers to avoid the causes that lead to traffic accidents and its related fatalities and severe injuries.