Road Safety Crisis: Nearly 60% of UAE’s Major Accidents Tied to Four Traffic Violations
A recent analysis of Ministry of Interior data by RoadSafetyUAE reveals a concerning trend, with nearly 60% of major accidents in the UAE last year stemming from just four critical infractions: sudden swerving (18%), distracted driving (16%), tailgating (14%), and general negligence (11%). Thomas Edelmann, founder of RoadSafetyUAE, emphasizes that these issues are frequently linked, noting that mobile phone usage remains the primary catalyst for distracted driving. With 6,014 major accidents recorded in 2025—a sharp 23% increase from the previous year—it is clear that the surge in new drivers and over 800,000 newly registered vehicles has placed immense pressure on the nation’s infrastructure.
To address these escalating figures, experts are calling for a multifaceted approach, including the integration of safety-focused technology for new drivers and a rigorous overhaul of driving school curricula. Furthermore, the report highlights a disturbing rise in incidents involving vulnerable road users, with e-scooter and bicycle accidents surging by 97% and 76% respectively. Edelmann particularly urged delivery companies to pivot away from "fast delivery" marketing models that incentivize reckless behavior, calling on them to instead prioritize road safety and strictly monitor the ethics and conduct of their riders to ensure public safety on increasingly congested roads.