Free auto insurance for good motorists

Sharjah: Motorists who maintain a clean traffic record free of violations and black points for five years will be rewarded with free auto insurance for one year, it was announced on Saturday.

Last week, the Traffic General Secretariat in the Ministry of Interior signed an agreement with the Emirates Insurance Associations to encourage motorists to drive carefully and ensure road safety for other road users.

"Motorists will be given a 20 per cent discount on their insurance policy in the first year, then 30 per cent discount in the second year and 35 per cent in the third," said Brigadier Gaith Al Za'abi, Director-General of Traffic Coordination in the Ministry of Interior.

Speaking on Sharjah Police's programme "Amman ya Beladi", which was broadcast on Sharjah Radio, Brig Al Za'abi urged all motorists to be responsible and to follow traffic rules in order to reduce accidents.

"We aim to spread the awareness campaign of traffic safety to 3.5 million people of various nationalities in the UAE, which has a total of 2.236 million registered vehicles," he said.

Gulf Traffic Week, which was held from March 13-19, ran under the slogan "Together to curb traffic accidents" and was aimed at ensuring road safety and avoiding fatal accidents.

Colonel Arif Al Shamsi, Director of the Traffic and Licensing Department at Sharjah Police, pointed out that the police co-operated with various government departments and private companies to raise traffic awareness.

"We have also intensified inspections on all busy roads, which will continue to be carried out for the rest of the year," said Col Al Shamsi.

Brig. Ihsan Al Aweesh, Deputy Director of the Traffic Department in Kuwait, explained that the Gulf states were successful in reducing the number of fatal traffic accidents.

"In 2009 there were 1,071 deaths reported in the Gulf states while 2010 witnessed a reduction by 23 per cent, with 826 deaths reported," he said.

Talking point: Films as material

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Police screened a 3D movie in Marina Mall in the capital as part of an awareness campaign related to GCC Traffic Week.

The movie, the first of its kind, portrayed how drivers commit mistakes while driving, said a statement issued by Abu Dhabi Police yesterday.

The movie has two main characters-one showing how drivers commit mistakes and the other showing how to avoid such mistakes.

Brigadier Engineer Hussain Ahmad Al Harithi, Director of Traffic and Patrols Directorate in Abu Dhabi Police said, the film was made to educate the drivers to avoid reckless driving.