The Effectiveness and Evaluation of Road Traffic Accident Reduction Measures in UAE

Abstract

Abstract Objectives/Scope This paper examined road traffic accident reduction measures in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between year 2007 and 2011. There are three (3) main objectives of this paper. Firstly, the paper aims to ascertain if the measures put in place by UAE government and other non-governmental agencies (NGOs) towards the reduction of accidents on UAE roads were successful. Secondly, is to investigate why some measures were successful and why others failed. Thirdly, is to establish better ways on how to reduce road traffic accidents in UAE. Methods, Procedures, Process Quantitative data was gotten from survey questionnaires sent to 308 people of which 88% of the respondents were drivers and 12% were non-drivers. Qualitative data was gotten from interviews of ten employees of a transport organization in Abu Dhabi. The results of the content analysis of the interview answers were used to triangulate the results from the qualitative data. The UAE RTA statistics gotten was used to compare with the results of the obtained quantitative and qualitative data. Surveyconsole web-based survey software was used to distribute the survey questions. The descriptive analysis method was used to analyse the raw data that it generated. Results, Observations, Conclusion The result showed that accident reduction measures put in place in the UAE have been mildly successful and that more work is required to bring down the number of road traffic accidents that occur on UAE roads. The study revealed that persistent adverts utilizing posters and bill boards (in both English and Arabic language) made a significant impact on the drivers while the use of flyers and leaflets made the least impact. RTA adverts that are persistent, constant and persuasive are vital in educating and creating awareness programs on better ways to reduce accidents on UAE roads. This paper advocates for more studies into finding out better ways of educating and communicating road accident reduction messages to the UAE population in order to create the desired personal safety consciousness among drivers. Furthermore, more studies is canvased to ascertain the impact of social culture on drivers’ behaviours and to determine how it can contribute to either an increase or a reduction in RTAs. Novel/Additive Information It is considered that the recommendations posited will be used by the transport authorities in the Gulf region to advance their efforts towards achieving their goals with respect to RTA reduction.