The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai is all set for the start of the Gulf Traffic Week (12-16 March 2017) under the theme: ‘Your Life is A Trust.’ RTA’s events will focus on pedestrian safety in line with its yearlong strategy targeting all road users. 

Hussain Al Banna, Executive Director of Traffic, Traffic & Roads Agency, RTA, said, “RTA preparations for the Gulf Traffic Week have made an early start this year. Statistics & traffic studies conducted by the RTA reveal an increase in fatalities of run-over accidents in 2016. Most of our events during the Gulf Traffic Week will therefore revolve around pedestrian safety. Events will cover City Walk, Al Karama, workers residential quarters and Dubai schools to deliver awareness messages to all targeted audience. 

“City Walk district has been selected in view of its location in the heart of the city and attractiveness to residents & tourists who prefer to walk in the locality. The RTA will have a booth to distribute educative leaflets about its events, which will also cover other areas such as workers accommodations and schools in Dubai. Awareness messages bearing the logo of the Gulf Traffic Week will be broadcasted through different channels including RTA social media platforms,” stated Al Banna.

Al Banna pointed that the RTA would focus on raising the awareness of road users. In this connection, several educative activities were held in collaboration with the workers' committee in Dubai with the aim of reaching out to some half a million workers. Similar activities would be held to educate workers at their workplaces or homes, beside cooperating with JAFZA in running awareness activities targeting 50,000 workers. He went on to say that emphasis on pedestrians safety would always be a target at workers residential quarters such as Sonapur, Jebel Ali and Al Quoz. Events would include delivering educative lectures, holding training workshops for workers' supervisors as well as presenting promotional gifts.

Al Banna called on the mass media to get involved in disseminating the traffic culture and promoting awareness events towards realizing RTA’s vision of "Safe and Smooth Transport for All.”