Car tyre busts caused eight deaths, while speeding caused five.
Dubai - Tailgating caused 446 traffic accidents this year, which caused 25 deaths.
Published: Wed 4 Oct 2017, 6:00 PM
Last updated: Thu 5 Oct 2017, 5:02 PM
Traffic accidents claimed 100 lives on Dubai roads in the first nine months of this year, the police have revealed. However, compared to the same period last year, traffic fatalities have reduced by 32 per cent. In the first nine months of 2016, 148 deaths were reported.
Colonel Jamal Al Banai, deputy director of the department of traffic, said drivers have become more careful since the implementation of the amended federal traffic law in July.
In addition to the fatalities, the 2,235 major traffic accidents reported this year resulted in injuries to 1,509 people. During the same period last year, 1,620 people were injured in 2,082 accidents.
Tailgating caused 446 traffic accidents this year, which caused 25 deaths. Inattentive driving caused 222 accidents that led to 26 deaths. Car tyre busts caused eight deaths, while speeding caused five.
Most of the accidents took place in the night, with 1,229 reported. In the mornings, 1,005 accidents were recorded.
Al Banai said despite the construction of pedestrian crossings, many pedestrians still cross illegally. He gave the example of an Asian who was caught jaywalking despite the presence of an air-conditioned crossing with a lift barely metres away.
The police have also deployed security patrols in areas that see a lot of accidents to educate motorists about the importance of adhering to traffic laws. Pedestrians are also warned and penalised for failure to cross from designated areas.
The police have also replaced old radars with new smart ones.
27 killed in run-over accidents in 9 months
Run-over accidents snuffed out 27 lives in Dubai in the last nine months of 2017. Though, this was 13 fewer fatalities as compared to last year.
Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, director general of traffic department of the Dubai Police, said that 248 run-over accidents were recorded in the past 9 months of 2017, in which 27 people died and 239 were left injured. In 2016 in the corresponding period, 276 such accidents took place which killed 40 people and injured 246.
He added that the Dubai Police have fined 54,257 for crossing roads from non-designated places during the same period of this year.
Laws have been tightened to deter passengers from crossing from non-designated areas. The police are also taking strict action against drivers who give scarce priority to pedestrians and cyclists.
Brigadier Saif Al Mazrouei pointed out that the Dubai traffic department is focusing on organizing inspections and deploying patrols. Roads frequently used by pedestrians are also under watch. He said that military and civilian patrols have been deployed to monitor the violations to reduce run-over accidents.
He added that the department will continue to focus on raising awareness among road- users about dangers of crossing the road from non-designated areas, especially on the highways. Following introduction of the new law from July 1, the fine for jaywalking has been increased from Dh200 to Dh400.
The director of the general directorate of traffic said that 54,257 tickets were issued for crossing the road from non-designated places in the last 9 months of this year
In March, the maximum 8,983 tickets were issued, followed by April (8,397) and February (7,364). In May, 6,866 tickets were issued while in January 5,172.
The lowest tickets were issued in August that stood at 4,133, followed by 4,281 in July, 4,318 in September and 4,743 in June.
amira@khaleejtimes.com
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