Road fatalities decline in Dubai

dubai — As many as 37 deaths were recorded in road accidents during the first quarter of this year, compared to 53 deaths in the same period of 2016.

Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police, at a meeting to assess the performance of the general department of traffic, instructed police officials to use modern techniques to monitor reckless drivers who do not abide by traffic rules.

He added that initiatives and campaigns to identify the best international practices that contribute to better traffic culture, intensifying traffic patrols and crackdowns and site visits of frequent accident spots must be carried out.

Colonel Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, director of the general department of traffic at the Dubali Police, said that Emirates Road topped the list of the five most dangerous roads in Dubai, with seven deaths happening in the first quarter of this year (eight last year), followed by Sheikh Zayed Road (six deaths in 2017, three last year). The Dubai-Al Ain road is next (three deaths this year, one death last year) and then Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road, with one death this year and six last year.

Colonel Jamal Al Bannai, deputy director of the traffic department, revealed that 273 people also sustained minor injuries in the first quarter of 2017, compared to 272 in the same period last year. 181 people sustained moderate injuries against 197 last year. Serious injuries to 38 people were reported this year, compared to 45 in the same period last year.

All the numbers point out that accident fatalities dropped in the first quarter of 2017, compared to 2016. This is due to tightened road rules and security, and focus on dangerous violations committed by drivers — including sudden deviations, not leaving enough space between vehicles, stopping in the middle of the road, speeding, erroneous lane changing and red light jumping.

Col Al Mazroui noted that aggressive campaigns and monitoring by the police resulted in 88,108 drivers getting caught for these violations in the first quarter of this year, compared to 45,543 in the same period last year. Also, 23,543 people were caught crossing roads from non-designated areas in the first quarter this year.