UAE

No traffic fatality around Dubai schools in 3 years

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Areas around schools in Dubai have registered a zero fatality record in the past three years, thanks to the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) ‘Generations safety is a shared responsibility’ initiative.

Hussain Al Banna, Director of Traffic of the Traffic and Roads Agency, said before the initiative was launched in 2006, traffic fatalities involving students constituted 21.9 per cent of all accidents in Dubai, which went down to 4.4 per cent in 2013. “But over the past three years, areas surrounding schools have been free from fatal traffic accidents and fatalities. Injuries among targeted children and students have been reduced by as much as 41 per cent, thanks to the initiative,” he said.

Al Banna was speaking at the Traffic and Awareness Programme, which was held on Wednesday at the RTA Headquarters for GCC delegates attending the Unified GCC Traffic Week.

Al Banna said the strong collaboration between the RTA, Dubai Police, Emirates Transport and Ministry of Health is behind this success. “Five years back, we gathered them all together and told them that the RTA could not do this initiative alone. We needed all to cooperate, even parents of the children. Parents give their 17-year-old teens cars before they can get a driving license, and the results are disastrous.”

Al Banna said this initiative focuses on mothers, with many traffic educational procedures and campaigns directed at them.

Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic and Roads Agency, honoured their partners in the initiative. GCC delegates attending the traffic week were also honoured.

Eight public and private schools, whose traffic awareness teams won the Traffic Safety Competition of the RTA, were felicitated for their research on traffic safety. A total of Dh90,000 was given away as cash awards to the winning students and schools in Dubai. “We focus our initiative on the children and the youth because they are the coming generation and the most important element in society. When they are well educated on traffic safety, their level of education will enable them to drive safely once they reach the right age to secure a driving license.”

Currently, Al Banna said, motorists in the age group of 18 to 23 contribute to about 15 per cent of the road accidents, while the 20 to 33 age group causes 35 per cent accidents in Dubai.

During the event, a short movie was screened, which told the story of a young Emirati, Marwan Mohammed, who was involved in a serious traffic accident due to over speeding, not fastening the seat belt and driving when sleepy. “I hope all people will feel and perceive the critical and bitter moments experienced during the accident so that community members are alerted to the fact that handling and driving the vehicle is a crucial issue related to the life or death of individuals,” Al Banna said.

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