Deaths on Dubai roads drop by 31% in first six months of year

There has been a significant decrease in the number of deaths on Dubai’s roads in the first half of this year, police say.

In the first six months 77 people were killed in traffic accidents, down from 112 for the same period in 2016 – a 31 per cent drop.

Maj Gen Mohammed Al Zafeen, chairman of the Federal Traffic Council and assistant commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, said the drop in road deaths was a result of stricter traffic regulations and greater number of police patrols.

“An accident takes place on Dubai roads every three minutes because of motorists not leaving enough distance between vehicles,” Gen Al Zafeen said.

Tailgating caused 19 deaths in 302 accidents and driving under the influence of alcohol was responsible for 207 accidents that killed two, Dubai traffic police statistics show.

Gen Al Zafeen said that sudden swerving had led to 17 deaths in 307 accidents and caused injuries to 262 people. All told, there were 1,395 accidents reported in the first six months.

Recent changes in traffic laws saw the fine for distracted driving doubled to Dh800.

“Once police officer saw a motorist smoking shisha while driving,” Gen Al Zafeen said. “The motorist was fined but before the new traffic law came into force.”

He said police were putting great focus on stopping motorists from using their mobile phones while driving.

“We want to stop people from being distracted on the roads,” Gen Al Zafeen said. “This behaviour while driving imposes a great threat to their lives.”

Six people in 100,000 die in road accidents across the country.

Gen Al Zafeen said the General Traffic Council hoped to reduce the number to three deaths for every 100,000 residents by 2021.

Meanwhile, nine Dubai drivers have been fined for failing to ensure that their back-seat passengers had their seat belts fastened in the three days since a law making restraints mandatory traffic came into force.

According to the updated traffic rules, which came into force on July 1, motorists are fined Dh400 and receive four black points on their licence if they have not ensured that all passengers in the vehicle wear fastened seat belts.

Before that, only passengers in the front seat had to wear restraints.

Gen Mohammed Al Zafeen said: “About 70 per cent to 80 per cent of motorists fasten their seat belts and we are expecting this percentage to reach 100 per cent.

“This is the main purpose of the recent traffic rules.”