31 per cent drop in road fatalities, RAK Police

28 people, including Emirati nationals and foreigners, were killed in traffic accidents across the emirate in six months this year against 41 deaths last year.

Ras Al Khaimah – The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah has seen a significant drop of 31 per cent in the number of road fatalities in the first half of the year.

The official figures showed that 28 people, including Emirati nationals and foreigners, were killed in traffic accidents across the emirate over the period from January 1 to June 30.

“Those included 11 UAE citizens as well as 17 Arab and Asian expatriates,” Col Ali Saeed Al Alkeem, Director of the RAK Traffic and Patrols Department said on Wednesday.

 Those are 13 deaths less in comparison to 41 killed in road accidents in the first half of 2014, he added. “Also, a 17.6 per cent drop in serious injuries has been reported in the first six months of the year.”

The most deadly accident of these took place on Monday afternoon when two Indians were killed and two others received moderate to serious injuries. The speeding minibus they were travelling in rammed into the rear of a heavy truck at 4.10pm on the Gheil Road in the direction of Fujairah.

Initial investigations and the accident re-enactment done by the RAK Police blamed the driver of the minibus for the fatal mishap because he was ignoring speed limit and safety space as well.

“The 43-year-old minibus driver, A.B, and a 31-year-old passenger, identified simply as B.V, succumbed to the grave injuries and fractures they received and died on the spot,” a police source said.

However, three other people, including two Indian passengers in the same minibus, identified only as R.A. (25), and A.U. (25) along with the heavy truck driver, M.N., sustained moderate to serious injuries, and were rushed to the Saqr Hospital.

Col Alkeem said the significant fall in road fatalities in the emirate is mainly due to the intensive strategy adopted by the ministry of interior to curb traffic accidents and casualties, however.

“The RAK Traffic Department spares no effort to thoroughly study all the reasons behind all traffic accidents, mainly the deadly ones, and find way out to curb human and financial loss.”

The department also is keen on developing traffic awareness of all segments of the society, he noted. “More traffic patrols and inspections raids and deployed across the emirate to better control and streamline traffic here in collaboration with all the entities concerned.” -ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com