Federal Traffic Council reviews road‑safety drive at fifth meeting of 2026

The council, chaired in Abu Dhabi by Brigadier Engineer Hussein Ahmed Al Harithi, reviewed accident response, awareness initiatives and the results of the Accident‑Free Day pledge.

Council examines measures to reduce road deaths and improve emergency response

The Federal Traffic Council held its fifth meeting of 2026 in Abu Dhabi, chaired by Brigadier Engineer Hussein Ahmed Al Harithi. Council members and representatives of strategic partners joined via videoconference to review progress on national road‑safety priorities.

Delegates discussed a range of technical and educational measures intended to strengthen road safety and to enhance the response to accidents and emergencies on the country’s roads. The meeting followed up on the implementation of traffic initiatives and public‑awareness campaigns designed to encourage compliance with safety regulations.

A central item on the agenda was the outcome of this year’s “Accident‑Free Day” initiative. Authorities reported that 385,700 members of the public signed the pledge, which coincided with the first day of the school year. Officials noted that no traffic‑related fatalities were recorded on that day, an outcome highlighted as evidence of the potential impact of coordinated awareness activity.

The council also reviewed national traffic‑fatality indicators for 2026. While the meeting summary did not publish detailed figures, attendees were told the statistics show a decline in the number of deaths compared with previous periods. Members attributed the improvement to a combination of enforcement, engineering interventions and sustained educational outreach.

Other topics examined included measures to accelerate accident handling on major routes and to promote best practice among emergency services and traffic agencies. The council emphasised the importance of data sharing and interagency coordination to reduce response times and to improve outcomes for road users involved in collisions.

Chairing the session, Brigadier Engineer Hussein Ahmed Al Harithi called for continued collaboration between federal authorities, emirate traffic departments and private partners to build on the latest progress. The council resolved to continue monitoring the effectiveness of current campaigns and to refine strategies where necessary to sustain the downward trend in fatalities.

Source: WAM