Gulf Traffic's UAE Road Campaign: Safety Awareness For Emirates SAFE

Safety has always been big on Gulf Traffics agenda, Gulf Traffic Exhibition 2009 was especially important in highlighting the need for action to reduce the annual fatalities on some of the worlds most dangerous roads within the UAE. The Gulf Traffic Awards recognised companies, individuals and organisations for their efforts in increasing safety awareness The Changing Driver Behaviour award went to Health Authority - Abu Dhabi for its HAAD Drive Safe - Save Lives Campaign 2009. The Products or Services that have contributed to road safety for changing driver behaviour Award was received by ISBAK Inc. for its Mobile Traffic+ system.  The award for Road Safety – Infrastructure Project was received by the Traffic and Road Agency in RTA for Safe and Smooth Transport for all.

Not only did Gulf Traffic Awards have a dedicated Road Safety Category, the exhibition presented many global exhibitors with an interest in safety.  Amongst them were Emirates Driving Institute and their 'roll' 'simulation vehicle - the Gulf Traffic Team volunteered to sit in the vehicle while it rolled a complete 360.

"It was a very unusual sensation, we were only going 3kph in a controlled environment and I just cannot imagine what that would feel like at speeds of over 100kph in a real accident. It really makes you realise how important it is to wear your seatbelt!  Even when I was completely upside down, I was only lifted off my seat slightly. The really scary thing was how all the lose items they had placed in the vehicle fell to the front and kept hitting my face, I'll definitely not be keeping my laptop on the backseat from now on!"

Alex Jones, Gulf Traffic Exhibition

Mohd Nasiv from EDI also emphasised how important it was to ensure your children are securely and properly seated in the vehicle and all loose items should be stored in the boot.


Are you road S.A.F.E? - Test your UAE road law knowledge.

S.A.F.E supports and is supported by the RTA's Take Care Campaign

Minimize the chance of being involved or hurt in a road accident by:

WEARING YOUR SEATBELT

KEEPING A SAFE DISTANCE

STICKING TO THE SPEED LIMIT

INDICATING WHEN CHANGING LANES

LOOKING BEFORE YOU CHANGE LANES

NOT USING YOUR MOBILE PHONE

CHECKING YOUR TYRE'S REGULARLY FOR PRESSURE AND TREAD

Industry News:

Nanny is out of coma and back home
06 Feb 10, The National
An Indonesian nanny who suffered severe brain injuries in a road accident that killed three of her Emirati employer’s children has returned home to continue her treatment after seven months in an Abu Dhabi hospital.

Two killed in horrific truck crash on Emirates Road
04 Feb 10, Gulf News
Two Asian workers were killed in an horrific accident when their speeding truck collided into another The driver is believed to have been speeding when he crashed into another truck that was moving at a slow pace in the traffic

Uniform test for Dubai learner drivers due soon
03 Feb 10, Arabian Business
Learner drivers in Dubai will soon have to pass a uniform test before being granted a licence under plans to improve the quality of instruction in the emirate.

Emirati killed in horrific car crash
03 Feb 10, Gulf News
A 25-year-old Emirati was killed in a horrific accident on Tuesday morning when his speeding vehicle hit a parked truck.

Nine passenger limit on minibuses on the cards
03 Feb 10, Gulf News
Abu Dhabi has stopped issuing permits to new 14 seater minibuses which often cause deadly accidents, a senior official told Gulf News on Tuesday. “We are preparing stringent rules and regulations to control them,” said Masoud Mohammad Hashim, Director of Regulation, Licensing and Compliance Division at TransAD, the taxi regulatory authority in the emirate.

Undercover police target bad drivers
03 Feb 10, The National
Be sure to be on your best behaviour the next time you flag down a goldand- white taxi – for the driver may be an undercover policeman. The cabs are among a new fleet of 48 vehicles being used as unmarked police cars in a campaign to catch reckless drivers.

Unmarked police patrols to check on reckless motorists
03 Feb 10, Gulf News
As many as 45 unmarked police cars will join forces with regular traffic patrol cars to curb reckless motorists, police announced on Tuesday.

Taxi Drivers warned to watch their speed
02 Feb 10, The National
Starting today, taxi drivers in the capital are being warned to watch their speed – because an automated fining system will be, too. TransAD, the hired-car regulator, said in a memo to the taxi franchisees last Tuesday that new speed limited would be imposed starting today, monitored through the tracking and dispatch centre.

Drivers in black point scam trade penalties with others
01 Feb 10, Gulf News
A new illegal trend has emerged among motorists, who trade their black points with motorists with clean records in return for a sum of money, Gulf News has learnt.

Heavy Duty Drivers Scare Capitals Female Motorists
31 Jan 10, Khaleej Times
A group of female motorists expressed dismay over the misconduct of drivers of public buses and trucks on the road, especially when they change lanes in a dangerous way and by not keeping a safe distance between vehicles

Over 750 nabbed during tailgating campaign
28 Jan 10, Arabian Business
Over 750 motorists have been fined in the first two days of a police campaign to crack down on tailgating on the capital’s roads, it was reported on Wednesday.

Number of road fatalities in Dubai drops in 2009
27 Jan 10, Gulf News
Last year Dubai roads witnessed the lowest fatality rate in four years with 23.5 percent decline in deaths and 16 per cent decline in fatal accidents compared to 2008.

Tailgaters blamed for 69 crashes in three months
25 Jan 10, Arabian Business
Police in Abu Dhabi have blamed tailgating drivers for 69 accidents over the past three months, which resulted in two deaths.

Pedestrian and rider hurt in motorcycle stunt
25 Jan 10, Gulf News
Filipina sustained serious injuries when she was hit by a motorcyclist performing stunts on Al Qawasim Corniche on Sunday.

UAE police toughen anti tailgating stance
24 Jan 10, Arabian Business
UAE police have announced that they will launch an anti tailgating campaign on Sunday, Jan 24, 2010. The campaign will educate motorists of the dangers of the practice, which causes the majority of rear end collisions.

RTA says no plan to lower minimum driving age
19 Jan 10, Arabian Business
Plans to lower the minimum driving age from 18 to 16 have been abandoned after authorities deemed it "unnecessary", it was reported on Tuesday.

Reckless drivers face having licences revoked electronically
17 Jan 10, Gulf News
Bad drivers face having their licences revoked for two years and banned for a similar period from obtaining another licence, unless they immediately stop driving dangerously on Dubai's roads, a chief traffic prosecutor warned.

Campaign Drives Home Awareness of Student Safety on City Roads
17 Jan 10, Gulf News
The ‘Safe Student Transport’ conducted by Traffic and Roads Agency at Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior has made positive inroads in uplifting the standards of traffic awareness among students across ages and particularly with regards to their safety during their daily shuttle to and from school and home.

Traffic violations fall by nearly 480 cases last year
17 Jan 10, Arabian Business
The total number of driving violations registered with Dubai’s Traffic Public Prosecution (TPP) fell last year by nearly 480 cases compared to figures for 2008.

Traffic Hotspots in Focus
17 Jan 10, Khaleej Times
The Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police will conduct 27 awareness and educational campaigns in 2010 to further educate motorists about traffic rules.

Slow motorists equally blamed for road mishaps - paper
16 Jan 10, Arabian Business
Women driving too slowly are causing accidents and traffic jams and can lead to as many problems on the roads as speeding drivers, the Ministry of Interior said, according to a report on Saturday.

Restaurant lorry crash death toll rises
14 Jan 10, The National
Five people were killed and nine injured when an out of control lorry crashed into a restaurant in Abu Dhabi. Police said the lorry drove into al Mansoori Restaurant, which is about 40 minutes from Abu Dhabi city, at about 9.30am yesterday.

Qatar: Road accidents drop in 2009 shows MoI data
13 Jan 10, The Peninsula
There has been a considerable drop in the cases related to traffic violations and road accidents ever since the new traffic law came into effect in 2007. According to the data released by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) for the year 2009 there were a total of 217 traffic deaths in the country. This is against 230 deaths reported during 2008

Man dies in RAK after truck rams into car
06 Jan 10, Gulf News
An Emirati man died when a heavy vehicle with faulty brakes crashed head-on into his car in Ras Al Khaimah on Tuesday.

UAE sees 10% drop in road deaths in 2009
06 Jan 10, Arabian Business
Traffic cops in Dubai have announced a 10 percent drop in the number of fatalities on the roads in the UAE, compared to figures for the previous year. Officials said the reduction was down to tougher enforcement of traffic regulations and the introduction of a points system for offenders

Dubai drivers warned over tailgating
21 Dec 09, Arabian Business
Motorists who do not keep a safe distance from other cars face getting a AED400 fine and four black points on their licence.

Students see horror of unsafe driving
17 Nov 09, The National
A graphic demonstration of the effects of reckless driving prompted students yesterday to call for tougher laws for young people on the road.

One killed in Emirates Road accident
17 Nov 09, Gulf News
A 39-year-old UAE national motorist was killed in a horrific accident on Emirates Road.

Accident involving taxi brings traffic to a halt on Sharjah bridge
17 Nov 09, Gulf News
A 35-year-old Pakistani taxi driver was seriously injured on Monday after his vehicle hurtled out of control

Drivers injured and trapped in vehicles after Dubai crashes
21 Oct 09, Gulf News
Two people were severely injured in two separate crashes yesterday after both drivers got trapped in their vehicles

Dubai Traffic Police Drives Past Billion Dirham Mark
21 Oct 09, Khaleej Times
The traffic department of the Dubai police has crossed the billion-dirham mark this year by way of accumulated fines recovered.

One killed, six injured as cars collide on Sheikh Zayed Road
21 Oct 09, Gulf News
One person was killed while six others were injured in a horrific car collision among three vehicles on Shaikh Zayed Road.

Teenagers cause fewest fatal road accidents in Dubai
21 Oct 09, Gulf News
Teenagers cause the fewest number of fatal road accidents in Dubai, according to a senior traffic police officer. Statistics released by Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of Dubai Police Traffic Department show most people were killed by drivers in their late 20s or over 50- years-old.

Two killed in Sharjah road crashes
21 Oct 09, Gulf News
Two people were killed and five seriously injured in two separate road collisions at Al Zubair Road and Industrial Area 5 yesterday morning.

Oman Concerned over Rising Road Fatalities
20 Oct 09, Khaleej Times
The rising incidence of traffic deaths and injuries in Oman is causing concern at the topmost level in the country. “What is happening on our roads is worrying,” His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said said, noting that negligence by motorists had been found to be the main contributory factor.

Abu Dhabi launches free roadside breakdown service
20 Oct 09, Arabian Business
The Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi has launched a new free initiative in cooperation with police to help manage accidents and vehicle breakdowns in the emirate.

Dubai Police crack down on speeding
19 Oct 09, Gulf News
The police’s traffic department will come down harder on certain categories of motorists, giving them little margin to exceed the speed limit, a senior official said. From November 1, trucks, buses and light vehicles such as pick-up trucks, minibuses and taxis will face severe punishment if they exceed the speed limit by 10km per hour

Reduction in speed limit aimed at curbing deaths
19 Oct 09, Gulf News
The Dubai Police Department is continuing its efforts to reduce road fatalities with new regulations coming into effect despite the fact that accidents and fatalities have fallen. Earlier, motorists were permitted to extend the speed limit by 20km/h. This will now be reduced to 10, said Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, director of the department.

Fines force taxi accidents down in Abu Dhabi
18 Oct 09, Arabian Business
The number of accidents involving taxis in Abu Dhabi has fallen by about 20 percent since authorities began handing out automatic fines to drivers, it was reported on Sunday. mSaeed, which began enforcing the AED500 ($140) fine in May, said the measure had reduced taxi accidents but could not provide the exact number of accidents, UAE daily The National reported.

RAK cracks down on driving without licence
16 Oct 09, Gulf News
The Inclusive Police Patrols on Thursday seized 10 cars from youngsters who do not hold driving licences at the entrance of two secondary boys schools.

Man killed after being run over by speeding car in Ras Al Khaimah
15 Oct 09, Gulf News
A speeding car ran over an Indian national on Shamal-Al Rams Street and later seriously injured another compatriot. The 37-year-old Indian national - identified as M.H. - was pronounced dead at the accident scene and his 60-year-old compatriot - identified as M.K. - suffered serious injuries and was taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital.

Sharjah university student killed in car crash
14 Oct 09, Gulf News
A 19-year-old Jordanian female student was killed on Monday night and her brother, 21, sustained moderate injuries after their vehicle overturned in Sharjah University City, police said on Tuesday.

F1 patrol car to boost road safety
14 Oct 09, The National
As Grand Prix fever takes a hold in the capital, the police have got into the spirit of the November 1 race by building their own 400kph Formula One machine. Billed as the fastest police car in the world, the F999 is part of a new campaign designed to raise awareness of road safety issues and of the role of the police in Abu Dhabi.

Drivers face jail term if they flee accident scene in Dubai
12 Oct 09, Gulf News
Drivers have been warned against fleeing the scene of an accident because they will not be given a lenient ruling, even in cases where the victim may have been responsible for causing the accident, a chief prosecutor said.

Driver killed as vehicle overturns in Ras Al Khaimah
12 Oct 09, Gulf News
An Emirati died on Sunday in a road accident on Al Jazera Al Hamra Street when his vehicle overturned. The 30-year-old victim was speeding and lost control of his vehicle.

Six months for fatal crash driver
12 Oct 09, 7 Days
A hit-and-run driver has been jailed after killing a man in a high-speed crash. The 34-year-old Pakistani lost control of his 4x$ as he was speeding and struck people waiting at a bus stop, killing a 52-year-old Pakistani man and seriously injuring a Bangladeshi man and an Indian woman. The driver fled the scene, leaving his car behind

Dubai-Al Ain Road: Slaughter house or highway?
12 Oct 09, Gulf News
This stretch of road winding from Al Ain to Dubai is deadly. In the past four months alone, 18 people have died in a series of horrific crashes. Ten days ago, seven people were killed and 11 more injured when a minibus rammed another vehicle at the Lahbab turnoff.

Teenage brothers killed in gruesome vehicle collision
07 Oct 09, Gulf News
Two Emirati brothers, aged 15 and 16, died on Wednesday in a crash on Al Gail Street when their vehicle collided with another car driven by a 16- year-old compatriot who suffered serious injuries. Colonel Hassan Al Jeeda, who heads the Traffic Section at the RAK Traffic and Licensing Department said neither driver held a UAE valid driving licence.

Far Fewer Traffic Deaths in Dubai
07 Oct 09, Khaleej Times
The death rate in traffic accidents in Dubai has declined by nearly a quarter in the first eight months of the year, compared to the same period in 2008, according to statistics from the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police.

Two killed and one seriously injured in Dubai Bypass Road accident
06 Oct 09, Gulf News
Two Asians were killed and one seriously injured in a road accident on Dubai Bypass Road on Monday. The driver and the front seat passenger were instantly killed as they crashed into a truck at around 11:30am, according to the traffic department.

Pedestrian killed after being hit by a vehicle in Dubai
06 Oct 09, Gulf News
A pedestrian died after being hit by a car at Abu Hail Road in Dubai, said a traffic police officer. The Bangladeshi national was killed on the spot after being hit by a vehicle driven by an Emirati woman, said the police

Police chief calls for ban on minibus licences
06 Oct 09, Arabian Business
A senior police official has called for a review of minibus licences because of the danger their drivers pose to Dubai’s other motorists Major General Mohammad Zaif Al Zafein, director of Dubai Police, traffic department, told Gulf News, that 21 percent of all road deaths in the first three months of this year involved minibuses.

Irresponsibility is cause of accidents
05 Oct 09, Gulf News
Speed and carelessness turn into a lethal combination, so drive with caution Once more, a speeding minibus and a careless deed by a driver have resulted in carnage on the roads of the UAE. This time, seven people were killed on Sunday in a horrific accident near Lehbab on the Dubai-Al Ain highway.

Relatives await news on crash victims
05 Oct 09, Gulf News
A day after a bus crash killed seven people, a group of Pakistanis wait forlornly on a lawn in front of the Trauma Centre, waiting for news about their relatives, who are alive, but just barely

Minibuses not safe to carry passengers
05 Oct 09, Gulf News
Approximately 21 per cent of all road fatalities in the first three months of this year have been caused by accidents involving minibuses, a top traffic police official said.

Man loses both legs in accident
05 Oct 09, Gulf News
"I was standing in a parking lot, just opposite the building where I stay. I was keeping close to my friends' car. Suddenly a car sped towards me. It hit me, pressing me against my friends' car and then it swerved back into the road and hit the barrier before coming to a halt," Towfiq said.

Seven killed and 11 injured as minibus crashes into car in Dubai
04 Oct 09, Gulf News
Seven people died and 11 injured in an horrific road accident on Jebel Ali-Lehbab Road on Sunday morning, police said. The crash happened around 7.15am when a minibus suddenly turned to take an exit and crashed into a car driven by an Emirati, said Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution.

Greater Amman Municipality committed to improving road safety
02 Oct 09, Jordan Times
The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has said it is focusing on means to ensure traffic and pedestrian safety, spending almost JD10 million a year to achieve a “high standard” of road networks. The press centre said the municipality has announced several projects to address this issue, including intersections and new roads, as well as its plan to develop public transportation services within its borders

RAK launches traffic campaign
30 Sept 09, Gulf News
The RAK Traffic and licensing Department on Wednesday announced its major 'Safe Transportation for School Students' campaign from next week.

Motorists driving with suspended licences arrested
29 Sept 09, Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: The police have arrested 14 motorists for driving with suspended drivers licences, officials said. The licences were suspended for a period of three months after the drivers accumulated more than 24 black points in a year. The arrests were made during the month of August alone.

80% of people support driving age limit increase
29 Sept 09, Arabian Business
More than 80 percent of people support the idea of raising the driving age limit in the UAE from 18 to 21, in a bid to make the roads safer, according to an Arabian Business poll. A total of 44.7 percent of respondents said they thought young motorists drove too fast and did not have the road awareness of safer drivers.

44-year-old man killed by speeding car
23 Sept 09, Gulf News
Ras Al Khaimah: A 44-year-old Emirati man died on Wednesday in the Shaam area after a speeding car driven by a 19- year-old compatriot man ran him over.

Sisters who survived accident, die in hospital
23 Sept 09, Gulf News
Ras Al Khaimah: Two young Emirati girls who were involved in a road accident while traveling with their family on the Al Tawayeen-Al Saeedi road on Tuesday succumbed to their injuries on Wednesday

Driving licence age limit should be raised to 21 - official
23 Sept 09, Arabian Business
The head of Dubai Traffic Prosecution has called for the minimum age to obtain a driving licence to be raised amid a "disproportionate" number of fatal crashes involving young Emiratis. Salah Bu Farousha called for the minimum age to be raised from 18 to 21 after raising concerns about the high number of young drivers who have died in accidents this year

Fatal accident takes RAK death toll to 64
22 Sept 09, Gulf News
Five Emiratis - two men, a woman and two young girls - died on Tuesday in a horrific road accident on Al Tawayeen Al Saeedi Roundabout here. Two other girls were admitted to the Saqr Hospital where medical sources described their condition as very critical.

Eid crash claims one as motorist loses control of car
22 Sept 09, Gulf News
A nine-year-old Iraqi boy was killed and his three family members were injured in a road accident on the first day of Eid, police said on Tuesday.

8 die in crashes during Eid holidays
22 Sept 09, Gulf News
Eight people were killed in separate accidents during the Eid Al Fitr holidays, police said. Five Emiratis – two men, a woman and two young girls – died in a horrific accident near the Al Tawayeen Al Saeedi Roundabout in Ras Al Khaimah on Tuesday.

Police tackle school safety
22 Sept 09, The National
The Abu Dhabi Police Department will blanket school zones with officers as children head back to class after Ramadan, officials said yesterday. The campaign is designed to prevent road accidents as children cross dangerous busy streets.

YouTube car tricks are denounced
22 Sept 09, The National
A road-safety campaigner has condemned as “outrageously irresponsible” high-speed driving and car tricks on public roads shown in a popular YouTube video. Drivers are shown spinning their cars at speed on roads lined with spectators and driving cars and sport-utility vehicles on two wheels along streets being used by regular traffic.

RTA Bans Registration of steering Modified Vehicles
22 Sept 09, Khaleej Times
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has banned the registration and licensing of vehicles with modified steering in a move to curb accidents.

Drivers are no safer with hands-free mobiles study finds
21 Sept 09, The National
Using a hands-free device for a phone conversation while driving is no safer than holding the phone to one’s ear, and both practices are dangerous, research shows.

53-year-old pedestrian killed after being run over by vehicle in Sharjah
17 Sept 09, Gulf News
A 53-year-old pedestrian was killed on Wednesday evening after he was run over by a speeding vehicle, police said on Thursday. The Chinese man was killed upon impact of the collision, which took place at the Al Sahaba intersection in the area of Al Ghubaiba.

Speeding truck driver detained for causing six vehicle collision
17 Sept 09, Gulf News
A speeding Pakistani truck driver has been detained in his hospital bed, after he injured six people when he lost control of his heavy vehicle and collided with six other vehicles

Seven injured as car crashes into pick-up van in Dubai
17 Sept 09, Gulf News
Seven people were injured in a crash between a car and a pick-up van on Thursday afternoon.According to Dubai Traffic Department, the crash took place at around 1:38pm when a pick-up van crashed into a vehicle on Sheikh Rashid Road opposite Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Drivers take the illegal road
16 Sept 09, The National
Motorists are taking an illegal shortcut over a flyover that has not yet been opened to avoid ongoing traffic at The Greens. Drivers, frustrated by heavy congestion at the traffic hot spot, are moving barriers and cones to access a bridge over Sheikh Zayed Road that will link the areas to Internet City, Media City and the Marina, residents say.

Fears over dangerous roads near schools
14 Sept 09, The National
Groups of children darted across the busy, six-lane road while some chased each other around trees on the central reservation as motorists passing at speeds as high as 80kph nervously sounded their horns.

Trapped after crash
14 Sept 09, 7 Days
A motorist was trapped in his car for an hour after being involved in a crash yesterday. Police said the 21-year-old motorist had been speeding on Rebat Road near the bridge heading to Al Warqa.

Emirati teenager's seatbelt safety invention wins police recognition
12 Sept 09, Gulf News
An Emirati teenager’s intellect and concern for society beyond his years has gained him recognition from Abu Dhabi Police. Khalid Mohammad Ali Al Shemmari, 18, got a pat on the back from senior police officials for a device invented by him that makes it impossible for a vehicle to move unless the driver fastens the seatbelt.

Abu Dhabi police film road safety commercial with F1 car
12 Sept 09, Gulf News
The traffic movement has been slow along the Abu Dhabi Corniche as police are using the street to film a road safety commercial ahead of one of the most eagerly awaited sports events of the year, the final race of this season’s Formula One.

12,000 new Dubai driving licences
11 Sept 09, The National
Demand for driving licences bucked the economic trend in the first six months of this year, with a 15 percent increase in the number issued by the licensing agency at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Poor outlook for nanny hurt in fatal accident
10 Sept 09, The National
A nanny who was injured more than two months ago in a road accident that killed three young sisters is unlikely to recover fully, Indonesian Embassy officials said on Tuesday.

Jordan: PM Urges Concerted Effort to Stem Road Accidents
09 Sept 09, Jordan Times
Amman – Prime Minister Nader Al Dahabi urged traffic authorities to carry on with a national strategy to curtail road accidents which, he said, had paid off significantly reducing fatalities resulting from accidents. He noted at a meeting of traffic authorities he chaired today that deaths on roads had dropped by 36 percent in August from the same month in 2008.

Motorist killed and passenger injured as car crashes into heavy vehicle on Al-Ain-Dubai road
07 Sept 09, Gulf News
A motorist was killed and a passenger seriously injured when a car crashed into a heavy vehicle on Al Ain-Dubai Road on Monday, the police said

Big Response to Dubai's Traffic Call-in Initiative
06 Sept 09, Khaleej Times
The General Department of Traffic of Dubai Police has recorded 15,767 traffic violations through the traffic police initiative ‘All of us police’, a police official said. The initiative saw an interactive process where people called in or sent photos of reckless motorists on the city’s roads to the Operation Room of Dubai Police.

Whats the Rush? Better Late Than Never
03 Sept 09, Khaleej Times
The time for motorists to pause and think is long past. Every eight hours of every day last year, someone was killed on a road in the UAE, according to police figures. Those 1,071 deaths, a persistently high fatality rate this year, and a recent global traffic report by the World Health Organisation, show roads here rank high on the list of the planet’s riskiest.

New push to require rear seat seatbelts
02 Sep 09, The National
Road safety campaigners are calling for laws to force drivers and passengers to buckle up in every seat of the car, with more vigorous enforcement for those who flout the rules.

Buckle up to curb back seat deaths
01 Sept 09, The National
A study of the consequences of road accidents in Al Ain lays bare the root of campaigners’ calls for tougher seat-belt laws. It found that the injuries suffered by rear-seat occupants of cars were just as severe as those of drivers and front-seat passengers.

Run over victim succumbs to injuries
01 Sep 09, Gulf News
Ras Al Khaimah: A heavy vehicle ran over an unidentified Asian on Al Jazera-Al Hamra main street Tuesday. The victim was crossing the street when the Asian driver hit the victim and ran over him.

DOHA: Some traffic violators may be pardoned
01 Sep 09, The Peninsula
The Traffic department is thinking of waiving penalties imposed on some traffic violators to mark the Holy month of Ramadan.

Road accidents claim fewer lives
30 Aug 09, Gulf News
Road accidents claimed the lives of 496 people across the country during the first half of this year - a 2.6 percent reduction in the death toll compared to last year. The same period last year saw 509 people killed in accidents.

Qatar: Woman driver jailed for killing pedestrian
30 Aug 09, The Peninsula
The criminal court has sentenced an Arab expatriate woman accused of killing a pedestrian through reckless driving to one month’s imprisonment. The court also ordered her to pay QR200,000 as blood money to the victim through the insurance company concerned.

Bus driver who slept at wheel dies after hitting truck
29 Aug 09, Gulf News
A Jordanian bus driver was killed and 20 passengers were injured when their bus crashed into a truck on the Abu Dhabi-Guwaifat highway yesterday morning.

Police to educate pupils and bus drivers on road safety
29 Aug 09, Gulf News
Police are to launch a “back to school” campaign to educate school children as well as transport employees on road safety, a senior traffic official told Gulf News.

School buses with new safety features set to make debut
28 Aug 09, Gulf News
The bright yellow school buses hitting Dubai roads from tomorrow will be a new sight for motorists. The buses have undergone a complete makeover to ensure the safety of pupils using the school transportation.

Road Deaths Down Despite More Mishaps
27 Aug 09, Khaleej Times
Road accidents in the UAE for the first half of 2009 have increased by 11.5 percent while fatalities have decreased by 2.6 percent compared to the same period last year

The sweet smell of a bus
27 Aug 09, 7 Days
Super-strength fans are being fitted on buses to take the pong out of public transport. But journeys on the new fleet will not only be sweet-smelling, they will also be safer. Vehicles have been fitted with anti-skidding technology and have the latest first aid and emergency equipment on board, which all drivers have been trained to use.

Epilepsy on the road
26 Aug 09, The National
Authorities in the UAE need to provide clear guidelines and regulations for drivers who suffer from epilepsy, says award-winning neurologist Dr Arne Brosig from the German Center for Neurology and Psychiatry in Dubai Healthcare City

Sisters hurt in crash
26 Aug 09, 7 Days
Two young sisters are seriously ill in hospital after a car crash in Dubai. Their parents, who are Indian and were also injured, are said to be praying for them. The girls were in the back of the car when it was hit by a van that had jumped a red light, Dubai Traffic Prosecution said.

Custody plan for Bahraini drivers involved in accidents
24 Aug 09, Arabian Business
Drivers involved in serious accidents will be held in custody for up to 48 hours under plans by Bahraini police to improve road safety. The latest figures by the General Directorate of Traffic showed that 41 people were killed in accidents on Bahrain’s roads in the first half of the year.

Carpenter's future uncertain after horrific car accident
23 Aug 09, Gulf News
A young man in ward No 2 of Rashid Hospital has been lying unconscious for the past 16 months after being hit by a car.

Bad drivers sent on a guilt trip
22 Aug 09, The National
If the risk of death will not make drivers be more careful, guilt will do the trick, the organisers of a road safety campaign hope. So motorists, especially young men, are being reminded bluntly that if they kill themselves by being careless on the roads, they will cause their loved ones deep emotional pain.

Will Gucci style persuade younger drivers to buckle up?
22 Aug 09, The National
“Gucci seatbelts” will be designed and distributed in a nationwide campaign to encourage fashion-conscious youngsters to be safer on the roads. Only 11 per cent of Emiratis and 44 per cent of expatriates wear seat belts, according to the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD).

Qatar: Road safety drive for Ramadan
21 Aug 09, The Peninsula
The traffic department and the Mowasalat will jointly launch traffic awareness campaign during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Pedestrian in RAK crushed to death
19 Aug 09, Gulf News
An Omani national died Wednesday under the wheels of a heavy vehicle on Al Fillayah Street when he crossed the street without paying attention.

Ban on Reflective Materials on Cars
19 Aug 09, Khaleej Times
A ban on the use of chrome, silver and golden thermal reflective films, paints and stickers on vehicles has been initiated by the ministry of interior, officials said. Fines will be imposed in connection with the new regulations and controls, the announcement added.

Dubai taxi rides up, accidents down in H1 - RTA
19 Aug 09, Arabian Business
Taxi journeys are safer in Dubai than they were a year ago, the Road & Transport Authority (RTA) said on Wednesday.

Two die in separate accidents in Sharjah
18 Aug 09, Gulf News
Sharjah: A Pakistani taxi driver was burnt to death Tuesday morning after a fire erupted in his vehicle. In another accident in Sharjah, an Emirati teenager was killed on Monday night as he lost control of the vehicle. The 17-year-old, identified by Sharjah Police as R.M.A., was killed instantly and his three passengers sustained serious injuries.

Tank driver jailed for fatal road accident
18 Aug 09, Gulf News
The Dubai Traffic Court of First Instance Tuesday sentenced a Pakistani driver to eight months imprisonment for causing the accidental death of two people when he lost control of the water tanker he was driving and crashed onto a truck and a minibus in Jebel Ali.

Traffic safety drive
18 Aug 09, The Peninsula
DOHA: Students from different schools in the Mesaieed area were actively involved in the just-concluded Traffic Safety Campaign launched by the major Industrial companies of the Mesaieed Industrial City.

Ministry may place ban on excessive window tint
17 Aug 09, Gulf News
The interior ministry is considering banning excessive window tints and reflective paint on cars, officials have said. Citing safety reasons the ministry has called on motorists using such materials to get them removed as soon as possible.

Saudi Arabia: Religious leaders join road safety campaign
17 Aug 09, The National
Saudi Arabia’s clergy is joining the government in a new campaign to reduce the growing number of road accidents in the kingdom, which has one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities in the world.

Clues to hit and run triathletes injury
18 Aug 09, The National
Several witnesses have come forward in the case of the triathlete Mark Pringle who is still in a critical condition in Mafraq Hospital after a suspected hit-and-run incident last month as he was out on his regular Friday cycle ride.

Two killed and 33 injured in 4 vehicle crash in Sharjah
17 Aug 09, Gulf News
Four vehicles including a bus were involved in a collision on Sunday night that resulted in two deaths and 33 people being injured. Due to the heavy impact, two of the vehicles and the bus caught fire.

Qatar fatal crashes fall in H1 - official figures
17 Aug 09, Arabian Business
Fatal road crashes in Qatar fell during the first half of 2009, new figures from the Department of Traffic and Patrol Police show.

Two killed as truck loses control in Abu Dhabi
16 Aug 09, Gulf News
Two people were killed after a truck slammed into another truck on Al Faya road in Abu Dhabi. One of the drivers lost control of his vehicle and hit the other truck.

Young motorists fear ridicule
16 Aug 09, The National
The young driver knew he should be wearing a seat belt for safety but he chose not to. So the professor who spotted him asked the student to explain why. He said” “My colleagues and friends would ridicule me.” Another student told me that if he could find a transparent seat belt, he would use it.

Bad drivers need therapy says doctor
15 Aug 09, The National
Anger management classes and stress therapy may be necessary to tackle the high fatality rate on UAE roads, according to one expert in mental illness.

RAK cracks down on outlets selling bad tyres
14 Aug 09, Gulf News
Ras Al Khaimah: In a bid to bring down the rate of accidents due to worn out and unfit tyres, the Ras Al Khaimah Traffic and Licensing Department has called on the emirate's Municipality, Department of Economic Development and other concerned authorities to crackdown on outlets which sell such tyres.

Police Seize Hundreds of Licences after Accidents
13 Aug 09, Khaleej Times
Dubai’s Traffic police have seized hundreds of driving licenses for various offences and have set up teams to seize hundreds more whose holders have accumulated more than 24 black points.

Police Launch Hunt for Fugitive Driver
13 Aug 09, Khaleej Times
Dubai Police are searching for a man who ran away from a hit-and-run car crash on Wednesday after he allegedly lost control of his speeding car, hitting three people waiting at a bus stop, killing one of them.

3000 Complaints of Rash Driving Against Taxi Drivers
13 Aug 09, Khaleej Times
Reckless driving by Sharjah taxi drivers in the first half of this year was partly behind passengers registering more than 3,000 complaints, said a Sharjah Transport spokesperson.

Teenager killed as two cars collide
12 Aug 09, Gulf News
Two people were killed and another three injured in two separate accidents on Dubai roads in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The first accident, which claimed the life of 15-year-old Emirati M.A, took place on Hatta Road at around 3am when two cars collided.

Police roll out second phase of national road safety campaign
11 Aug 09, The National
ABU DHABI // Police announced yesterday that the second wave of their national road safety campaign had begun. The Salaam Road Safety Public Awareness campaign, launched to coincide with Ramadan, will focus on the dangers of reckless driving, particularly among young Emiratis, officials said.

Three killed in separate road accidents across Dubai
11 Aug 09, Gulf News
Three people have been killed and another six injured in three separate accidents on Dubai roads in the last 72 hours. The first two accidents, which claimed two lives, took place on Sunday on Emirates Road at the same spot with just 45 minutes interval

Course for Drivers to Read Fellow Drivers Moves
11 Aug 09, Khaleej Times
Anyone who holds a driving licence in the emirate knows the freedom to drive down the roads comes with a slightly less pretty side: the stress of being stuck in traffic jams, unpredictable or ‘out of line’ drivers. Emirates’ Driving Institute on Monday launched a one-day refresher course named ‘Defensive Driving’, aimed at helping drivers brush up their skills and also to enable them to read unexpected movements of fellow motorists, thereby minimizing chances of knee-jerk responses and road rage.

130 firms cautioned in RTA clampdown on illegal road ads
11 Aug 09, Arabian Business
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced it is clamping down on the illegal placing of roadside adverts in a bid to improve road safety.

Accident kills 6 in family tragedy
11 Aug 09, Jordan Times
Six Jordanians living in Bahrain were killed and three others injured in a road accident that took place in Tuesday morning in the Neiriah area of Saudi Arabia, a Foreign Ministry official told The Jordan Times yesterday.

Traffic Police constantly on patrol, official warns
09 Aug 09, Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: Some 275 drivers who lost there licenses for accumulating 24 black points were arrested on Abu Dhabi’s roads during the first six months of this year, police said yesterday.

Abu Dhabi offers free tyre check-up
05 Aug 09, Gulf News
The Abu Dhabi Traffic Department has launched a free tyre check-up service as part of the second seasonal campaign for GCC countries, organized under the theme of “The Safety of Tyres”

Two killed and three seriously injured in horrific car crash in Dubai
05 Aug 09, Gulf News
A speeding and reckless driver and a passenger were killed in an horrific car crash on Sheikh Zayed Road early on Monday.

Pedestrian run over by a speeding car in Ras Al Khaimah
05 Aug 09, Gulf News
A speeding car ran over a pedestrian in Ras Al Khaimah, killing the Pakistani national on the spot.

324 motorists stripped of licence in six months
04 Aug 09, Arabian Business
A total of 324 motorists were stripped of their driving licences for exceeding the maximum number of points in Abu Dhabi over the past six months. Figures from Abu Dhabi police’s Department of Traffic and patrols showed that of those drivers 130 were foreign expatriates, 102 were UAE nationals, and 77 were Arab nationals.

RAK: Driver training revamp proposed
03 Aug 09, Gulf News
Ras Al Khaimah: The Traffic and Licensing Department is planning an overhaul of driver training as the authorities are unhappy with private driving schools’ performance, according to a senior official.

RTA announces scheme to train driving instructors
03 Aug 09, Arabian Business
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has launched a scheme to train driving instructors and examiners to international standards to improve safety on the emirate’s roads.

Pedestrian death rate slides by 25%
02 Aug 09, Gulf News
The pedestrian death rate per 100,000 inhabitants has reduced by more than 25 percent in Dubai, the latest Dubai Traffic Police statistics have revealed. The rate of fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants has reduced from 8.6 in 2007 to 6.4 in 2008

Motorists put hearse before the car
01 Aug 09, Gulf News
Forget about old and worn out tyres, some motorists have been found using tyres meant for animal driven vehicles (ADVs) such as carts, Gulf News has learnt

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