ABU DHABI // The number of deaths on Abu Dhabi’s roads fell by more than a quarter in the past year.
There were 63 traffic-related deaths in the first three months of this year, compared with 88 in the same period last year. The number of people critically injured also fell from 88 to 78.
Despite the 28 per cent fewer deaths, the number of traffic accidents fell by only 2.5 per cent, from 547 to 533.
Of the 63 deaths, 33 were caused by collisions, 22 pedestrians were killed and eight people died after the cars they were travelling in rolled over.
Most fatal accidents were caused by drivers not giving priority to pedestrians crossing roads, sudden swerving, speeding in unstable road conditions, burst tyres and tailgating, said traffic police chief Brig Gen Hussain Al Harithi.
He urged drivers to adhere to traffic laws and not to commit offences that led to accidents.
In other police statistics, Tuesday was the safest day to be on the road, with only 10 per cent of accidents recorded on that day. Wednesdays and Thursdays had the most, at 17 per cent each.
The fewest fines were handed out on Fridays, 11 per cent, and the most on Mondays, 17 per cent.
Most fines, 32 per cent, were imposed between 8am and noon, and most accidents occurred between 8am and 4pm.
Drivers aged between 18 and 30, 52 per cent of whom were Emirati, caused 46 per cent of accidents.
The number of vehicles registered increased from 830,148 last year to 857,114, a 3 per cent increase.
Gen Al Harithi said drivers must be cautious while on the road, not use mobile phones while driving, keep from swerving into lanes, leave a sufficient distance between vehicles, not run red lights, wear seat belts and give priority to pedestrians.
During the first quarter of the year, 185 new radar speed cameras were installed across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and 1,469 vehicles were impounded after being caught travelling at 200kph or more.
Police said the number of people who took part in initiatives to raise awareness, which included lectures and education programmes, almost tripled, up 184 per cent from the first quarter of last year.
ksinclair@thenational.ae
