RAK residents voice concerns over rise in run-over accidents

With four pedestrians killed on the roads of Ras Al Khaimah in three months, residents have voiced their concerns over the dramatic spike of such terrible accidents.

Late last December, a 35-year-old Pakistani man, identified as Mohammad Irfan, succumbed to fatal injuries after a speeding car ran over him while he was riding a bicycle.

Early in the same month, a 57-year-old Asian resident was killed after he was run over by a car driven by a 26-year-old Emirati.

Abdulhafeez Jamal, Jordanian, said he lost one of his closest friends in a hit-an-run accident.

"My friend Mahmoud was crossing the Airport Road in Ras Al Khaimah when a speeding motorist ran over him and fled the scene."

Ahmed El Behiry, Egyptian, said he himself went through a similar experience. "A speeding driver ran over my right leg and broke it into half two years back when I was crossing the road from a pedestrian crossing, and the traffic signal was red."

Mohammed Salem, a safety engineer, said residents need to be extra cautious when crossing the road, and "only cross the road from designated areas".

Motorists are also advised to observe speed limit and reduce speed on busy roads, in residential areas and during foggy and unstable weather.

The bodies concerned also need to build more pedestrian crossings, particularly at hotspots, he underlined.

He also suggested metal barriers to deter jaywalkers from crossing the road haphazardly.

Police sources said pedestrians and bikers should be given priority on the road, mainly on the zebra crossing areas.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com