The government has been keen on intensifying its control and preventive measures to address road accidents in the country, which is among the leading causes of death in the UAE, next to chronic illnesses such as heart diseases, cancer, and diabetes.
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Through the government’s intensified awareness campaigns launched year in and year out, also during special holidays and in Ramadan, when there is an expected increase in road movement, road casualties are slowly and surely going down by the day. However, in order to complement these efforts, there has to be laws which will ensure the protection of road users and passengers through the enforcement of higher safety standards when it comes to passenger transport, pick-up, and transfer services.
Gov’t Amends Laws on Licensing Vehicles, to Ban Use of Passenger and School Minibuses Soon
In line with this, the Federal Traffic Council has issued a statement banning the the use of passenger minibuses starting January 2023. Similarly, schools will not be allowed to use minibuses to transport students by September 2021, as shared in a report by the Khaleej Times.
The decision was made during the council’s meeting led by Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, Deputy Commander-General of the Dubai Police for Operations Affairs and President of the Federal Traffic Council.
Among the topics discussed at the meeting, vehicle control devices that detect cars but bypassed school buses were raised by participants. On that note, participants also reviewed a presentation by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on the amendment of road weight laws.
In relation to this, the Abu Dhabi Police has earlier announced new standards for licencing 15-passenger vehicles and pickup vehicles as of last year. The amendments made, specified by Abu Dhabi’s Transport Department, are aimed at improving passenger safety and develop transportation services.
During the meeting the council also reviewed traffic violations, accidents, and mortality rates on UAE roads, and noted that there has been a drop by 32% on mortality rates on UAE roads as of last year.
It can be recalled that since last year, traffic safety awareness campaigns have been launched tackling speed limits on major roads, as well as the corresponding fines and punishments for violations on road etiquette as well as passenger safety practices. Also, the government has announced new speed limits on certain roads where there is significant vehicular traffic and corresponding incidences of traffic violations.
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