Dubai Cuts Road Fatalities by 90%

Dubai's Road Safety Triumph: 90% Drop in Fatal Accidents

In recent years, Dubai has achieved significant success in the field of road safety: roads have become safer, and the number of fatal traffic accidents and serious injuries has drastically decreased by more than 90% between 2007 and 2024. Recent data shows that pedestrian collisions have also plunged sharply, thanks to a comprehensive road safety strategy jointly developed and implemented by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Police.

Spectacular Improvement in Road Statistics

In 2007, there were 21.7 fatal accidents per 100,000 people, while by 2024 this number was only 1.8. The rate of pedestrian accidents showed an even greater reduction, falling from 9.5 to 0.3. The combined indicator of fatal and serious traffic accidents dropped from 36.2 to just 4. The mortality rate per registered vehicles also improved significantly, decreasing from 4.2 to 0.45 per 10,000 registered vehicles.

These impressive results are part of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy 2022–2026 program, which aimed to achieve the vision of 'Zero Fatalities'.

Targeted Interventions: Hazardous Locations, New Crosswalks, Safer Traffic

One important element of the joint effort was identifying 23 particularly dangerous locations where accidents frequently occurred. At these sites, 54 priority pedestrian crossings were built and several intersections were modernized, with special attention to the safety of 'soft mobility' traffic participants such as pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter users.

This year, a total of 53 initiatives and programs were implemented as part of the road safety strategy, based on four main pillars:

Road and Vehicle Engineering Solutions (21 projects)

Systems and Management (16 projects)

Traffic Awareness (11 projects)

Enforcement (5 projects)

Smart Systems and Stricter Monitoring

Dubai is increasingly focusing on intelligent technologies. A smart management system is being developed for public transport drivers to further enhance safety.

The regulatory environment is also adapting to modern challenges: laws governing autonomous vehicles have been introduced, and new tracking systems are being utilized to identify accident-prone locations. The accident reporting platform is also being renewed.

Authorities have strengthened checks at pedestrian crossings and regarding the safe use of motorcycles, bicycles, and electric scooters.

Awareness Campaigns: Reach of Millions

Dubai Police highlighted that raising awareness has played a key role in achieving positive results. Eight large-scale campaigns reached over 255,000 people, and 24 educational videos generated 117 million views across various platforms. The videos drew attention to the severe consequences of traffic violations, such as injuries and fatalities.

The RTA and Dubai Police visited truck rest stops 19 times, organized 85 workshops and field visits with the participation of couriers, attended by more than 15,000 motorcyclists. In addition, targeted pedestrian safety campaigns were launched, reaching another 10,000 workers and drivers.

Summary

Dubai's exemplary progress in road safety is not by chance but the result of a well-planned, multi-pillar strategy. Identifying hazardous locations, developing infrastructure, applying smart systems, and increasing public awareness have all contributed to making roads safer today than ever before.

(This article's sources are statements from Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police.)