His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday emphasised the need to adopt a clear, institutionalised and sustainable approach to further reduce the number of traffic accidents.

Chairing a meeting for entities concerned with traffic safety, King Abdullah expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the national traffic strategy, which has helped reduce the number of traffic accidents.

At the meeting, also attended by Royal Court Chief Nasser Lozi and the King's Advisor Ayman Safadi, Prime Minister Nader Dahabi said traffic accidents have been on the rise over the past years, and with them an increase in the number of injuries, fatalities and losses to the national economy.

However, after the implementation of a traffic strategy requested by King Abdullah in early 2008, the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities has begun to decrease gradually, said Dahabi.

Early last year, King Abdullah sent a letter to the government in which he called for combating the increase in accidents in a serious and systematic manner, revising traffic legislation and drawing up a traffic strategy with the involvement of all stakeholders, said Dahabi.

Following the letter, the government held several meetings with the participation of public and private sector representatives, media personnel and all traffic-concerned stakeholders, added the premier.

Dahabi also underlined the importance of the media in adopting awareness campaigns on traffic issues.

Public Security Department Director Major General Mazen Qadi reviewed the measures taken by the department last year to reduce accidents and the results achieved.

The number of accidents in 2008 dropped to 101,000 from 111,000 in 2007, said Qadi.

Ministers and officials present at the meeting reviewed the procedures of several ministries and agencies to help reduce traffic accidents.

Minister of Municipal Affairs Shihadeh Abu Hdeib said the ministry focused on traffic safety issues while drawing up the master plans for each of the country's governorates.

Minister of Education Tayseer Nueimi said traffic safety concepts have been introduced in school textbooks, noting that the ministry carries out several awareness programmes on the issue.