Intensive patrolling brings down road deaths, injuries in Dubai

Dubai - The statistics showed that traffic accidents and road fatalities dropped in the first quarter of 2017, as a result of strict control on roads.

A total of 37 road fatalities were recorded in Dubai during the first quarter of this year, as compared to 53 during the same period last year, said Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, during a meeting to take stock of the performance of the General Department of Traffic.
He instructed police officials to use modern techniques to monitor offenders who drive recklessly and flout traffic rules, while stressing that initiatives and campaigns should be carried out to enforce best international practices that can spread traffic culture. He said this can be achieved by intensifying traffic crackdowns and patrolling various roads/streets where accidents are frequent.
Colonel Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of General Department of Traffic, said that Emirates Road topped the list of the five most dangerous stretches in Dubai as 7 deaths were recorded during the first quarter of this year there, as compared to 8 deaths during the same period last year. This was followed by Sheikh Zayed Road (6 deaths compared to 3 last year). Dubai - Al Ain road (3 deaths compared to 1 death till March 2016), and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road were the other stretches where road deaths were reported.
According to records, during the first quarter of this year, 273 people sustained minor injuries, compared to 272 during the same period last year.
The statistics showed that traffic accidents and road fatalities dropped in the first quarter of 2017, as a result of strict control on roads with focus on dangerous violations committed by drivers, including sudden deviations, not leaving enough distance between vehicles, stopping in the middle of the road, speed violations and jumping the red light.
During a campaign to check aggressive driving, the police caught 88,108 drivers who committed the violation during the first quarter of this year, compared to 45,543 vehicles which breached rules during the same period last year. As many as 23,543 people were caught crossing roads from undesignated area till March 2017, compared to 21,802 doing the same during the same period last year.

• Dubai