Jumping red signal causes 56 accidents in Dubai this year

Dubai - It has left 83 people injured

Jumping the red signal caused 56 accidents and left 83 people injured - thankfully without any casualties - in the past seven months of this year. The Dubai police have issued 19,270 tickets to motorists who committed the traffic violation during this period.
Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, director general of traffic department of Dubai Police, said last year, 29,328 red signal violations were recorded, causing 119 accidents which killed three people and left 146 injured.
Al Mazrouei pointed out that the red signal violation is one of the most serious traffic offences. The statistics confirmed that accidents resulting from these violations cause death or serious injuries, as well as increase the possibility of material damage due to huge impact of collision between vehicles, he added.
Cars that jump the red signal are often found speeding, which results in the smash-up, he underlined. Al Mazrouei pointed out that there has been a rise in the number of drivers accelerating the speed of their vehicles while approaching the traffic signal. They do so to cross the signal before it turns from yellow to red, and their rash driving leads to accidents, he said.
Al Mazrouei said that the new traffic rules impose a fine of Dh1,000 for  jumping the red signal. Apart from this, such violation entails 12 traffic points and the offender's car is also confiscated for 30 days. For heavy vehicles, red signal violation carries a fine of Dh3,000 and the violator's  license is suspended for one year.
amira@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai