Women at greater risk of injury on UAE roads

Road accidents account for almost half of all injuries to women in the UAE, a new study has found.

Research over a three-year period discovered that women are more likely to be involved in road accidents than men and are more likely to suffer injuries as a result than women in nearly all other Gulf countries.

Researchers, from the medical faculty at the UAE University, examined the records of all female injury victims who were in Al Ain Hospital for more than 24 hours and found that road traffic accidents accounted for 45 per cent of all injuries, compared to just 37 per cent for men.

Of the 171 women studied, three died as a result of injuries sustained in traffic accidents.

A 34-year-old woman died six days after being admitted with severe head injuries sustained in a car crash, a 43-year-old woman died 14 days after her accident and a 21-year-old died on the same day she was admitted to hospital.

Speeding and people not using seatbelts were cited as the main reasons for the UAE’s above average rate of road accident injuries.

Dr Subash Gautam, one of the country’s experts on medical trauma, said that the number of traffic accidents in the UAE involving women has risen because more women work outside the home.

Gautum added: “The roads are good and petrol is cheap so people are careless.”

He said it is time to shock drivers, adding that “accident black spot” signs would be a powerful way to alert drivers to danger.

“The Dubai to Al Ain road, for example, can be very dangerous,” Gautum added. “Drivers should be aware there are dangerous areas coming up and to slow down.

“It’s interesting that there are fewer serious accidents in Cairo and New Delhi than there in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. In urban areas where there is congestion, there is no room to go very fast.

“UAE roads are better so there is a much greater opportunity to speed. They are travelling for work more so they are more exposed to dangerous conditions on the roads,” he said.