ABU DHABI, 18 March 2007 — Gen. Sheikh Saif ibn Zayed Al-Nahyan, minister of interior, yesterday urged motorists to beware of surprises on the road and avert unnecessary loss of lives.

In a media statement on the occasion of the 23rd GCC Traffic Week, Sheikh Saif said road safety was not the responsibility of the government alone but also that of motorists. “It is true that road engineering and design is the responsibility of the Interior Ministry. But motorists also have the responsibility of sparing unnecessary loss of lives by maintaining vigilance and respecting traffic rules,” said Sheikh Saif.

He added that the UAE attached greater importance to the issue of road safety to ensure a hassle-free life for nationals and expatriates.

“We have instituted a sound traffic infrastructure such as road signs, lights, pedestrian crossings, underpasses etc. There is no reason why motorists should endanger their lives and those of other road users through reckless driving,” said Sheikh Saif.

Meanwhile, a statement from Abu Dhabi police said that four people had been killed and 36 injured, during the first 20 days of February, in different accidents that took place in the western region of Abu Dhabi. “The main reason behind the accidents were reckless driving,” the statement added.

Launching the GCC Traffic Week in Riyadh yesterday, Saudi Arabia’s traffic chief said the Kingdom was in the process of banning the use of mobile phones by drivers as part of efforts to bring down accident rates.

“We are now in the process of banning the use of mobile phones while driving as it causes the driver lose his concentration while driving,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted Maj. Gen. Fahd Al-Bishr, director of the department, as saying.

He said the new traffic law, which is in the final stage, would make the use of mobile phones by drivers a crime punishable by a fine. Once introduced, Saudi Arabia will become the second GCC country to adopt such a preventive measure.

Al-Bishr spoke about the merits of GCC traffic weeks in enhancing public awareness and exchanging expertise and experiments. “Traffic departments all over the Kingdom are observing the week from today conducting a variety of informative programs,” he said.

According to a report issued by the department, 283,684 traffic accidents took place last year, resulting in the death of 5,883 people. The report showed a 2.2 percent decrease in accidents compared to the previous year. It also showed that three people died every three hours last year as a result of road accidents.

— additional input by P.K. Abdul Ghafour