Abu Dhabi road safety improves

ABU DHABI // Traffic safety has significantly improved in Abu Dhabi over the past five years, according to the latest statistics released by the Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police.

Fatalities caused by run-over accidents dropped by 54 per cent, traffic accidents by 40 per cent, fatalities caused by traffic accidents by 35 per cent, and serious injuries decreased by 50 per cent between 2010 and 2015.

Moreover, traffic-related fatalities decreased by 59 per cent per 100,000 inhabitants, despite the increased number of registered vehicles by 12 per cent over the period.

Brigadier Hussein Ahmed Al Harithi, director of Traffic and Patrols Directorate, attributed the improvements to the long-term strategic traffic safety plan, which aims at decreasing traffic accidents’ fatalities to 3 per cent per 100,000 inhabitants by 2021.

“In the coming period, we will be launching the smart traffic systems’ center at the Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police, which is equipped with advanced software that operates as an integrated system to manage traffic practices,” Brigadier Al Harithi said.

“The integrated system also monitors and evaluates traffic flow on roads in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the performance of the directorate’s staff members, and increases the efficiency of the human resources.”