Gulf Traffic Conference in Abu Dhabi turns spotlight on road safety

Britta Lang, Principal Road Safety Scientist at the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) UAE, said that the UAE capital has taken a leading role in road safety in the Gulf region, with other countries also actively working on road casualty reduction programmes.

"Abu Dhabi has progressed very well in the last three years regarding its Decade of Action on Road Safety, and in terms of casualty reductions and financial savings the emirate has already surpassed its original 10 year targets," said Lang, a headline speaker at next month's Gulf Traffic Conference, taking place on 19 November at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

"The challenge is to ensure the reductions gained are sustained. Abu Dhabi wants to do more and is considering more ambitious casualty reduction targets. Provided the emirate maintains the current progress and delivery of the entirety of the road safety strategy, then we can be confident that lower casualties can be sustained."

The TRL is a privately owned international transport science organisation which has been working with the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DOT) to execute the UAE capital's road safety strategy since 2009, a year in which there were 409 road fatalities recorded.

The following year witnessed 376 fatalities and in 2011, when the first Road Safety action plan was implemented, 334 deaths were recorded. In the first seven months of 2012, 121 fatalities have occurred.

Added Lang: "Abu Dhabi currently has the lead in road safety strategy and implementation in the Gulf region but they have been working on it for a few years now. The results are self-evident and since 2009 there have been some significant reductions in road casualties; that trend is continuing.

"Now many Gulf countries are quite rightly showing considerable interest in the development of road safety strategies. It is very encouraging that road safety has become a priority in the region, and each Gulf country is at various stages of the development and implementation of safety plans."

The Gulf Traffic Conference is a feature of the Gulf Traffic Exhibition, which takes place from 19-21 November. The one-day conference will bring together regional and international leading experts in road traffic and transportation in order to establish what needs to be brought into the region to further develop and ensure road safety.

At the conference, Lang will speak about the use of driving simulators for road safety research and training purposes, outlining how they can usefully contribute to the road safety agenda, including the investigation and understanding of driver behaviour.

"The Gulf Traffic Conference is one of the larger transport related conferences in the region and has a well established programme that benefits road safety," continued Lang. "Speaking to an audience of decision makers, government and industry helps to ensure the messages of road safety are reinforced."

Organised by Informa Exhibitions, Gulf Traffic is a dedicated exhibition for the road, public transport and parking sectors, bringing together more than 100 exhibitors involved in the design, build, and maintenance of the region's road, rail, parking and public transport projects.
Now in its seventh edition, the three-day event is endorsed by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), and is supported by the Abu Dhabi Police, Saaed, the Law Respect Culture Bureau, and ITS Arab.

Gulf Traffic attracts more than 3,000 transport industry professionals and government agencies from across the Middle East.