By Ashfaq Ahmed  gulfnews.com
Al Tayer calls for adherence to proper driving practices as RTA awards winners of short film contest
At least 16 motorists were killed in 2010 in traffic accidents by not keeping a safe distance between vehicles on Dubai roads, said a senior official at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
“We recorded some 445 road accidents which were caused by negligence of motorists who did not leave sufficient distance from the vehicles in front of them,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA. He urged motorists to ensure a safe distance between vehicles so that they have enough time to react and stop their car in case of an emergency on the road.
Al Tayer was speaking at a function held yesterday at the RTA headquarters to honour the winners of ‘Your Safety in Your Distance’ short film contest launched by the RTA in 2010, targeting students of public and private universities and colleges in Dubai. The contest was launched as part of the activities of the Traffic Awareness Ambassadors, which the RTA had appointed in various educational institutions.
Students were asked to produce a five-minute awareness film focusing on leaving sufficient distance between vehicles and their impact on traffic safety. RTA got seven entries from 38 students.
Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of the General Department of Traffic of Dubai Police; Mohammad Bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, Salah Bu Farousha Al Falasi, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution, representatives of colleges and universities and delegations from GCC ministries of interior also attended the event.
Al Tayer said that the RTA paid special attention to traffic awareness as it considered traffic and road safety for all motorists a pivotal component of its business.
Deaths in Sharjah
Police yesterday revealed the main causes of traffic accidents last month were due to failure by motorists to pay attention on the roads, not maintaining enough space between vehicles and speeding.
According to a report issued by Sharjah Police in February fatalities included cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.
Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Bin Darwish, Head of Anjad Patrol, said at least three people died in February and that the most horrific accident involved two cyclists and a female motorist who were killed when a lorry’s trailer fell on the vehicle. He said: “The woman died when her vehicle caught fire after a trailer fell on top of it. The accident occurred during a traffic pile-up due to an earlier accident on one of the main roads leading to Dubai Bypass Road in Dubai.
“The accident happened due to the lack of space between the cars, speeding and lack of attention on the road.” On February 22, a 37-year-old Pakistani cyclist died after he was knocked down by a speeding vehicle in Garayen area of Sharjah. Another cyclist died in an accident at Al Abdouli Intersection in Industrial Area 2, he said. The cyclist was trying to cross the road when he was hit by a car.
