The Federal Traffic Council under the Ministry of Interior coordinated with police forces nationwide to roll out the “Accident-Free Day” initiative as part of the quarterly “Safe School Year” awareness drive. Motorists began registering for the program on August 17 via an online portal, with the critical test day falling on August 31 when schools reopened across the country. Those who sign the pledge and avoid any accidents or infractions receive the point reduction automatically on September 25 without visiting service centers, the ministry said in its announcement.
Participation in the previous year’s equivalent campaign exceeded 300,000 drivers, according to ministry records. The UAE recorded more than 6,014 major road accidents in the preceding 12 months, a 23 percent increase from the year before, with roughly 60 percent attributed to behaviors including sudden swerving, distracted driving, tailgating and inattention, ministry figures show. The initiative seeks to instill safer habits particularly around school zones where traffic congestion spikes during drop-off and pick-up times.
Brigadier Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police and head of the initiative, urged all road users to exercise patience and responsibility. “Creating a safe traffic environment requires cooperation between drivers, pedestrians and all other road users,” he told local reporters. The campaign also encompasses guidelines for school bus usage and student behavior to minimize risks during commutes.
The “Safe School Year” component, launched by the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Center, focuses on educating students, parents and supervisors about safe travel practices. Students should arrive at bus stops early and maintain distance from moving buses while supervisors monitor boarding to prevent crowding, the center stated. Parents received reminders to accompany children and ensure proper handover at school gates.
Hussein Al Harthi, chairman of the Federal Traffic Council, highlighted the importance of positive behavioral change in reducing incidents. He noted that launching on the school year’s first day underscores the priority of protecting students. The effort includes multilingual messaging in Arabic, English and Urdu disseminated through social media and partner organizations.
Traffic law enforcement forms a key pillar, with violations around school buses carrying fines up to Dh500 and 10 black points for failing to stop, according to federal traffic regulations outlined in the campaign materials.
