Capital drive to catch signal jumpers.

Summary: The Abu Dhabi Police have intensified patrolling on roads, especially at signal junctions, to curb the dangerous practice of jumping the red signal by reckless motorists.

The Abu Dhabi Police have intensified patrolling on roads, especially at signal junctions, to curb the dangerous practice of jumping the red signal by reckless motorists.

The police have also urged drivers to reduce speed as they approach traffic signals and abide by the traffic rules to avoid accidents.

Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammed Rashid Al Shamsi, Head of the Traffic Control Section at the Traffic and Patrols Directorate, said the initiative is part of a media campaign with the slogan 'Your Safety' launched by the police recently.

It includes a slew of traffic awareness initiatives being taken by the Police Operations Department in collaboration with the Security Media Department at the Secretariat of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

"The campaign, being organised in coordination with the Public Relations Section at the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate, was chalked out based on the indicators from the traffic accidents in Abu Dhabi city in the first quarter of this year," Lt-Col Al Shamsi said.

The figures for the period show that jumping the red signal by motorists caused 65 road accidents, which claimed six lives and resulted in serious injuries to two persons, he added.

The Tathqeef (education) patrols and other traffic patrols are taking part in the campaign by distributing awareness leaflets and advising motorists on the risks of jumping the red signal as well as the need to pay attention and reduce speed when they approach the signals.

Cops in official vehicles and civilian cars will strictly monitor the roads to catch the offenders.

Lt-Col Al Shamsi stressed the importance of stopping at the traffic signals. The motorists must stop the vehicles completely if the red signal is on or even if the amber light is on and wait until the signal changes from red to green before they enter the yellow box.

This will avoid serious accidents, which often take place when the speeding vehicles fail to stop even as the signal changes from amber to red and crash into vehicles entering the junction from the other directions. Such crashes often result in fatalities and serious injuries, he added.

He called on the public to support the police campaign, which is specifically aimed at enforcing discipline at traffic signals and ensuring the safety of the motorists and other road users.

[e-mail]

Copyright 2012 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved.

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company