The Ministry of the Interior (MoI) launched a campaign to introduce the Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017 on the rules and procedures of traffic control and the Ministerial Decision on the amendment of the subsequent executive regulations of the Federal Traffic Law. These amendments were based on the relevant traffic studies and statistics and the initiative of the Federal Traffic Council on reviewing and updating the laws. 

The Ministry of Interior's unified campaigns subcommittee and traffic departments in the country will carry out awareness campaigns for the same purpose in the framework of the main campaign that precedes the implementation of the decision to be put into force on July 1st. 

The campaign reflects the Ministry of Interior's strategy to achieve the highest levels of traffic safety as part of theTraffic Sector's strategic plan to control road safety and reduce traffic accidents, achieve the target of traffic indicators and the national indicator to reduce deaths to 3 per 100,000 population by 2021.

Major General Mohamed Saif Al-Zafin, Chairman of the Federal Traffic Council, said that the ministerial decision on amending the executive regulations of the Federal Traffic Law focuses on re-examining all traffic violations in terms of points, including some offences and raising the number of registered points.

He added that the Council formed a team to evaluate the ministerial decision and submit periodic reports regarding it, pointing out that the awareness campaign aims to introduce the public to the law and the new offenses and the amendment of some fines and traffic decisions such as the mandatory use of children's seats in the rear seats of the vehicle or allowing children below ten to be seated in the front seat. According to the new rules, all passengers are required to wear seatbelts and speed limits in residential areas should not exceed 40 kilometers. A team has been set up to raise awareness of the objectives of the campaign at the countrywide level and to coordinate with partners to participate in awareness raising efforts. These partners include the Ministry of Health, Health Authorities across the UAE, the DubaiRoads and Transport Authority, the Transport departments and Municipalities, and the Emirates Automobile and Tourism Club.

Al-Zafin announced that the awareness campaign will include intensive workshops at the countrywide level in addition to holding specialized workshops for government agencies and parents to teach them on the use of rear seats for children.

He pointed out that the awareness materials of the campaign wereprepared in coordination with the Security MediaDepartment at the General Directorate of Security Support in the General Secretariat of the Office of HH the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. 

These materials included awareness booklets in several languagesto be distributed to the road users. 

He called on various media and activists on social media sitesto participate in achieving the goals of the campaign to enhance thepublic traffic awareness, and to follow-up the accounts of the Ministry of the Interior and the police GHQs through all channels and social media platforms which continue to publish the awareness messages on the new traffic rules and procedures.