Filed on January 3, 2017 | Last updated on January 3, 2017 at 05.28 am

Over speeding has emerged as a key cause behind traffic accidents.

In order to improve road safety, the Sharjah Police has recommended the lowering of speed limit along the Maliha Road, particularly in the section between Al Badea Bridge and Sheikh Khalifa road exit, from 120 km/hr to 100 km/hr.

The new speed limit has become effective with the beginning of 2017.

The decision was taken on the basis of field research carried out by the Traffic and Patrols Department of the Sharjah Police, in co-operation with strategic partners.

The stretch also underwent maintenance and development work, carried out under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development.

The study included a review of speed limits in the emirate of Sharjah, particularly along roads prone to serious accidents that often ended in fatalities. The study's aim was to increase traffic safety along these roads, save the lives of drivers and reduce the number of serious accidents.

Over speeding has emerged as a key cause behind traffic accidents.

The decision would help reach the target of the government team at the Ministry of Interior to bring down the fatality rate along the five main accident-prone roads in the state by 21 per cent in 2017, compared to the same period last year.

Al Naoor highlighted the department's efforts to improve traffic safety, and said several programmes were in the works to realise that aim. He also called upon the drivers to abide by the sanctioned speed limit to assure that they remain safe and help reduce any losses of life.

Apart from this, the Ministry of Interior also announced a number of measures to meet the goals set under the government accelerators' mechanism to improve safety on the five roads, identified as most prone to fatal accidents. Strategic partners, as well as the Traffic and Patrols Department, were represented in this group.

Furthermore, the Umm Al Quwain Police has ramped up its efforts to improve safety along the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road in the emirate. This is to reduce the road accidents along this stretch, as well.