Nine road violations per minute during Eid holidays

Dubai - Official says the large number of violations taking place in such a short duration is a reflection of the recklessness of drivers.

As many as 41,000 radar-related traffic violations were recorded during the three-day Eid holiday in Dubai. Around 10 speeding violations were recorded every minute.
Enumerating the traffic violations during the period, Colonel Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of the General Department of Traffic of the Dubai Police, said tailgating topped the list of reasons leading to fatal accidents, as 25 per cent of road deaths this year were attributed to it. As many as 77 people died compared to 108 last year due to not maintaining enough gap between cars while driving.
Not paying attention to the road was the second reason, causing 24 deaths. Col Al Mazroui attributed the drop in traffic accidents to the increased use of different types of traffic control devices, more police patrols on highways and dangerous spots and the implementation of incentives programmes such as the white point system.
He said that the Dubai Traffic Department recorded 41,423 speeding violations of which 40,170 were caught by radars and 1,253 by cameras at red signals. He added that so many violations taking place in such a short duration (Eid break) is a reflection of the recklessness of drivers.
However, no maritime accidents were reported this year. Major Ali Abdulla Al Naqi, head of Maritime Rescue section of the Dubai Police, said they had managed to keep up with the name of the recently launched police campaign "Eid without accidents".
"He said that as per instruction of Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police, and Major-General Anas Al Matroushi, head of Transport and Rescue Section of the Dubai Police, the department had increased police patrolling during the holidays.
He said they had set up seven maritime points across the emirate to deal with emergency situations and had assigned 22 divers and rescuers, in addition to water bikes and boats to deal with any untoward happening. He said the department had warned people to avoid swimming in areas with strong currents and high waves. - amira@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai