ABU DHABI // Deaths on Abu Dhabi’s 10 most dangerous roads have dropped by more than 50 per cent so far this year compared with the same period in 2013.
So far 26 people have died on the 10 roads – 30 fewer than this time last year.
And Lt Col Ahmed Al Zayoudi, head of the crash section for the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Department, said the number of accidents on those roads had also fallen from 214 to 196 in the same period.
The 10 most dangerous roads in the emirate are:
- Abu Dhabi to Al Sila Road;
- Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashed Road;
- Abu Dhabi to Al Ain truck road;
- Sweihan Road;
- Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street;
- Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street;
- Ghayathi Road;
- Abu Dhabi International Airport Road;
- Abu Dhabi to Al Ain road
- Abu Dhabi-Dubai truck road.
Increased patrolling, installation of radars and signs that clearly specify the speed at which the radars are set all helped to reduce the number of accidents, Lt Al Zayoudi said.
He added that the accidents varied from collisions to turnovers.
Sudden swerving, failure to leave a safe distance between vehicles, speeding, tyre blowouts, neglect and inattention were the main reasons for the accidents.
Lt Al Zayoudi urged drivers to maintain vigilance and keep their eyes on the road when driving through fog and shifting sands when visibility is low.
“The main cause for concern is that drivers are not planning ahead,” said Khaled Al Mansoori, vice chief executive of Emirates Driving Company. “They are not thinking far ahead into their journey and often make split-second decisions where and when they are turning off major roads.”
There is a gap between what is taught at driving schools and real-life driving situations, said Salaheddine Bendak, an associate professor at the University of Sharjah.
“We can address this through stricter enforcement, publicity campaigns and driver education focusing on developing hazard perception skills,” he said.
“Many drivers are unable to properly judge the risks involved and are distracted by conversations with passengers and their mobile phones. They should focus on their driving, use their mirrors efficiently, perform a shoulder-check for blind spots, turn on the indicator before changing lanes and always leave enough distance between vehicles.”
newsdesk@thenational.ae
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This year’s winners of the US$4 million Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize will be recognised and rewarded in Abu Dhabi on January 15 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week, which runs in the capital from January 13 to 20.
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