Wearing seatbelts was 8th on the list
Residents in the UAE believe that speeding is their biggest concern on the roads of the country, a poll conducted by the ministry of interior (MoI) has revealed.
The survey showed that while 68% of respondents from across the UAE believe that road travel in the country is relatively safety, they would also welcome an increase in the use of unmarked police vehicles to monitor road safety and catch those breaking the law. Two-thirds of repsondents or 66%, said such “measures were fair, a majority (56 per cent) favour an increase in the use of the same”.
The results of the survey are published in August issue of the MoI’s 999 magazine and show that driver careless-ness is the second biggest concern. Drink driving was in third place, followed by rubbernecking in fourth and jumping red lights in fifth.
Inconsiderate turning (6th), loss of control due to tyre blowouts (7th) and not using proper child restraints or seatbelts (8th) complete the list.
Lt Colonel Awadh Saleh Al Kindi, Editor-in-Chief of 999, said: “We need to educate all the motorists, especially the younger ones, about the dangers of speeding. The number of deaths and injuries being caused by speeding-related accidents has already come under the official scanner.”
He added: “We have approached this through a two-pronged strategy: On one hand, officials have warned strict action against drivers who endanger the lives of other road users, besides their own; on the other, the police are carrying out awareness campaigns and encouraging family members of road accident victims to speak to young vehicle users, making them aware of the tragic consequences of a reckless joyride. We hope that everyone will start to do their part in safeguarding the lives of everyone by being a responsible motorist.”
Data from the General Directorate of Traffic Coordination at the Ministry of Interior show a decline in road fatalities in 2011 by 12.8 per cent compared to the year before. In 2010, there were 826 fatalities, while in 2011 the figure was 720. During this period, collision and crash accidents declined by 11.6%; the number of cases of overturned vehicles decreased more than 20 per cent; and car accidents involving pedestrians fell by 8.6%.