Dubai: There were 2,330 traffic incidents in 2014 up until the end of October, a Dubai Police official revealed at a press conference on Wednesday.
The incidents included everything from serious accidents that resulted in deaths, to minor ones that did not result in injuries or deaths.
Maj Gen Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Operations Affairs, said that the number of traffic accident fatalities from the beginning of 2014 to mid-November was 151, while in 2013 there were 147 fatalities between January and the end of November.
“The road death index is still relatively the same when you take into consideration the increase in the population and the number of vehicles this year,” he said, adding that the index is 3 deaths out 100,000 residents.
A total of 2.25 million traffic violations were recorded by Dubai Traffic Police from the beginning of 2014 until the end of October.
Maj Gen Al Zafein said that the majority of the violations, 83 per cent, were recorded in absentia, and only 17 per cent were recorded in the presence of the violator (379,613).
“Radar-related violations, which include running a red light or speeding, make up the majority of the violations with 1.31 million, which comprise 59 per cent.” Maj Gen Al Zafein said.
There were 1.3 million speeding violations and 12,030 incidents of motorists running a red light in 2014 up until October.
“Speed remains the top violation. It also remains one of the leading causes of serious accidents,” he added.
There were 7,880 instances of heavy vehicles not abiding by the speed limit.
To try and remedy the speeding issue, Dubai Police have added an extra 48 radars this year, bringing the total to 425 radars.
The majority of accidents, 90.18 per cent, involved men drivers, while women drivers were involved in 8.72 per cent of accidents. The remaining 1.09 per cent were caused by unidentified drivers.
In 2014, up until the end of October, 26,823 vehicles were impounded by Dubai Traffic Police.
