DUBAI, 9th March, 2023 (WAM) — Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced an array of fresh initiatives in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and traffic departments across the UAE to mark the Unified Gulf Traffic Week (6-12th March 2023) held under the theme "Your Life is a Trust."
Maitha bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency, at RTA, said, “RTA is rolling out a broad range of initiatives during the Unified Gulf Traffic Week 2023 targeting different groups such as children, students, cyclists, scooter riders, individuals who have been injured in traffic accidents, as well as the public.
“The Agency participated in a special stand within the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion at Global Village, along with traffic departments in the UAE. The focus of RTA was to raise awareness about traffic safety requirements for bike and e-scooter users, and stress the importance of fastening seat belts and pedestrian safety. The agency sought the assistance of its strategic partners in the exhibition, such as Emirates Driving Institute, which brought in a kinetic device that rotates a life-size vehicle on a horizontal axis to educate participants on the significance of seat belts during a vehicle rollover. Additionally, Careem BIKE showcased a bicycle rental station in Dubai and gave simplified explanations about traffic safety requirements while using bikes,” said Bin Adai.
“The Agency also launched the "Golden Rules for Generational Safety" initiative during the Gulf Traffic Week in collaboration with Tristar at the Zayed Education Complex in Al Barsha. The campaign aims to raise awareness of more than 100,000 first and second-cycle students in Dubai schools regarding school safety guidelines via e-mail. Furthermore, approximately 10,000 students were directly targeted by deploying mobile traffic villages at schools. The initiative also involved the distribution of innovative gifts and educational brochures accompanied by scientific questionnaires to measure students' awareness and knowledge trends,” noted Bin Adai.
“As part of the Traffic Week activities, an initiative was launched to honour the users of bicycles and e-scooters. The Agency, in collaboration with Dubai Police, distributed a total of AED 20,000 to 20 exemplary drivers and users of bikes and e-scooters over two consecutive days at various locations,” she added.
The Traffic and Roads Agency arranged for high school students to visit traffic accident victims at Rashid Hospital in Dubai to raise awareness about the risks associated with traffic accidents and their impact on road users' lives. Additionally, awareness activities included educational lectures for mothers on child seat safety at some Hospitals and Malls in Dubai, and distribution of Salama magazine at the RTA's stand in the Global Village, as well as an introduction of the In-Safe Hands service for children and women offered by the Dubai Taxi Corporation.
“The Agency continued this March with its monthly awareness campaign via messages on billboards and the virtual messaging signs on the streets of Dubai. She encouraged the public to heed these traffic awareness messages, enjoy the activities of the Gulf Traffic Week, and collaborate in promoting traffic safety in Dubai,” concluded the CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency.