10 road deaths during Eid break

dubai/abu dhabi — As many as 10 people were killed and 54 others injured in road accidents across the UAE during the Eid holidays, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Traffic authorities said the accidents were caused by drivers flouting rules including sudden swerving, speeding, motorists entering roads without ensuring the way was clear and general inattention.

Among the tragic accidents included the one in Ras Al Khaimah on the first day of Eid, in which a Pakistani mother and child died of injuries they sustained in a crash on the Jebel Jais road.

The woman had been put on ventilator at Saqr Hospital and was declared dead on Monday afternoon. Her two-year-old daughter, who also sustained serious injuries, died just a few hours after the crash. The police blamed the crash on another

728 road accidents reported in Dubai over 4-day Eid break

125,867 number of emergency calls handled by Dubai Police during Eid

driver who suddenly overtook the victim’s car, leading to a collision.

Brigadier Ghaith Hassan Al Zaabi, director-general of traffic coordination at the Ministry of Interior, said: “Drivers should strictly adhere to traffic rules to avoid accidents that claim the lives of innocent people.” He also noted that measures to reduce accidents and deaths, and intensifying traffic awareness programmes across the country, needed to be stepped up.

In Dubai, 728 road accidents were reported over the four-day Eid holidays.

Colonel Turki bin Faris, director of the command and control department at the Dubai Police, said: “Some 728 traffic accidents occurred across Dubai during the Eid holiday. We also handled 125,867 emergency calls.

“Speeding, failing to maintain a safe distance, tailgating, carelessness and distraction are the main causes of crashes.” He urged motorists to stick to their lanes, drive safely and take extra care at interchanges. Motorists were urged to plan their routes in advance and watch out for pedestrians while approaching intersections and residential neighbourhoods.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com