Files review in search for dangerous drivers

Sharjah Police want to track down serial offenders

SHARJAH // Serial traffic offenders beware – Sharjah Police are reviewing old accidents and breaches of traffic laws to identify and track down repeat law breakers.

Brig Aref Al Sharif, deputy director of central command operations, announced the new measures at a Ramadan Majlis on Monday night at Mughaider suburban council.

Brig Al Sharif said that officers were looking up traffic records of repeat offenders in a bid to reduce the number of deaths on its roads, which was 159 last year. “We have been going back to motorists’ traffic records, checking out the accidents they were in and talking to witnesses from the accident scenes to determine if those people are reckless,” he said.

“We gather all the information and a committee decides if action should be taken against them to protect others on the road.” Of those who died on Sharjah’s roads last year 24 were under 18 years of age, 53 were between 18 and 30, 58 were aged 31 to 45, 18 were 45 to 60 and six were older than 61.

“Last year, traffic accidents resulted in 86 severe injuries, 351 moderate and 375 simple injuries,” said Lt Col Ahmad Al Naour, deputy director of Sharjah traffic police.

Traffic police meet other departments every three months to discuss reports collected.

“We look over alarming numbers such as accidents, runover incidents and the number of speeding tickets in a specific area or road, and devise an action plan accordingly to tackle the problem,” Lt Col Al Naour said.

Most accidents involving pedestrians occur in the industrial areas of the emirate, police said.

“The victims in the industrial areas are mainly Asian, so we started frequenting the cricket stadium and other outlets where they meet up,” Lt Col Al Naour said. “We hand them brochures in their languages, and provide them with native speakers to raise their awareness and curb the alarming number of fatalities.”

In the first five months of this year, 8,251 severe traffic offences were recorded in Sharjah. Instances of driving through a red light took the top spot, with 6,824 offences.

There were 50 cases of racing, 152 of reckless driving, 1,081 of speeding and 144 of public endangerment.

Police have launched several awareness and clampdown campaigns to curb reckless driving and have impounded modified cars that could cause a disturbance and danger to the public.

In the first five months of this year, 8,251 severe traffic offences were recorded in Sharjah