The UAE is just a year away from its Vision 2021, and one of the targeted milestones on that route is to bring down road fatalities to 3 per 100,000 of the population. This is not just a number: once achieved, it would mean a much higher degree of compliance with road rules and a very high level of road safety. Each emirate is doing its bit to curb negative traffic behaviours and promote positive behaviours. In Abu Dhabi, all the efforts have yielded impressive results. Starting last January 15, 2020, the Capital introduced a system to crack down on tailgating, one of the most common and most dangerous traffic-related offences. According to statistics, Abu Dhabi recorded a significant improvement in the number of fatalities and casualties in traffic accidents during 2018 compared to 2017. The number of traffic accident fatalities dropped from 199 to 149, a decrease of 25.13%, and the number of injuries fell from 149 to 120, a decrease of 19.46%.
The violator will pay a fine of Dhs400 and get four black points. This stiff penalty will be imposed every time a driver gets too close to the vehicle in front of him
The overall number of traffic violations recorded increased from 4.6 million in 2017 to 5.67 million in 2018. But this was a result of better monitoring and more vigilance of law enforcement. As tailgating needs particular attention, the Traffic and Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police rolled out the new system. Central to the new system are smart and fixed radar devices deployed on most of the internal and external roads of Abu Dhabi. These devices use modern high-quality and accurate surveillance cameras to monitor, photograph and record the movement of vehicles. The objective is to put an end to this traffic violation which threatens lives and properties. After Abu Dhabi Police launched the campaign, motorists on some stretches appeared to be taking much greater care. On day one of the new system, Marj Rico, a Filipina living and working in the Capital said, “This new system compels motorists to observe the 3-second rule, avoiding crash when the vehicle in front suddenly bring his/her car to a halt. The move assures motorists like me that the road is much safer now, even in the fast lanes:’
For Indian Nadalita Kumar, who’s been using a car on her way to and from the office, lauded the installation of new state-of-the art surveillance cameras. “I am sure that rear-end drivers who do not think of the safety of their passengers and other road users will think twice before they tailgate. This is what I like about Abu Dhabi and the country in general. Law enforcers never cease to innovate to ensure the safety of everyone.”
Brigadier Mohammed Dhahi Al Humairi, Director of Traffic and Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, said that the directorate has launched the system of “automatic detection of drivers who do not leave enough distance between vehicles on the roads, as of January 15, 2020”. Catching tailgaters began through deploying smart and fixed radar devices and the application of item 52 of the traffic control rules and procedures (Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017) on violating drivers. The violator will pay a fine of Dhs400 and get four black points. This stiff penalty will be imposed every time a driver gets too close to the vehicle in front of him, violating the legal requirement of leaving enough space .