Status of traffic safety in the UAE

This paper addresses the reality and requirements of traffic safety in the UAE. Different traffic safety issues in the country are discussed including traffic accidents, traffic violation, traffic safety education and awareness, vehicular safety, infrastructural factors, supporting institutional factors, driving behavior, emergency medical service, accident research, and the roles of traffic safety stakeholders. The opinions of road users as well as professionals dealing with traffic safety were collected and analyzed. Meanwhile, different facts from the recent accident reports are analyzed. Results revealed that the major causes of traffic safety problems are (1) negative behavior of road users, (2) lack of awareness of road users, (3) faulty road design, (4) faulty vehicle, (5) inadequate training of drivers, (6) poor law enforcement, and (7) inadequate coordination among traffic safety stakeholders. Traffic safety in the UAE could be improved by establishing a national traffic safety authority. Other recommendations include establishing educational programs at schools, conducting a continuous awareness campaign, implementing a systematic road safety auditing, performing periodical evaluation of traffic laws, applying a strict law enforcement, introducing more monitoring devices for traffic violations, and initiating an in-depth traffic accident and traffic violation research.