Road fatalities decline in Dubai

dubai — Seventy six people died in road accidents in Dubai in the first half of 2017, compared to 112 deaths in the same period last year, said Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, director-general of the Traffic department at Dubai Police.

Among other figures, 570 people sustained minor injuries in accidents in the first half of the year, compared to 590 in the same period of 2016. 343 people were moderately injured this year, down from 388 similar injuries last year.

But the number of serious injuries did not decrease, with 77 this year compared to 78 in 2016.

Emirates Road topped the list of the most dangerous roads in Dubai, seeing 10 deaths in the first half of 2017 and 17 in the same period last year.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed road followed with eight road deaths year and five last year. Sheikh Zayed road recorded seven deaths, compared to 20 deaths last year, while Dubai-Al Ain road saw five deaths in 2017 and three in 2016.

Al Khail road had a zero-death record in 2017’s first half, and two deaths last year.

Brig Al Mazrouei noted that the drop in road fatalities could be attributed to increased traffic patrolling and use of modern radars and technology to track violators and accident-prone areas.

Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police, reviewed initiatives and campaigns conducted by the Traffic police department that improves road culture in the emirate. The department organised 61 courses and workshops in 2017 for 966 participants, four major traffic campaigns, and 78 lectures that reached out to 66,972 people.

amira@khaleejtimes.com