In 2013, 117 people died and 797 were injured while crossing roads from non-designated spots in the UAE. Nearly 40,000 people are fined every year. But, the problem still persists and hundreds of jaywalkers are risking their lives. Gulf News decided to speak to readers about areas in the UAE that require proper pedestrian crossings or footbridges. Majority of the votes were for Al Ittihad Road, near Ansar Mall, in Sharjah.
Which area do you think requires a pedestrian crossing? We asked our readers this question on the official Gulf News Facebook page. The responses we received included:
- Al Ittihad Road, near Ansar Mall, Sharjah
- Al Taawun area, Sharjah
- Amman Street, Al Nahda 2, Dubai
- Damascus Street, Dubai
- King Faisal Street, Sharjah
- Al Wahda Road, Sharjah
- Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, Sharjah
- 16th Street, near KM Trading, Mussafah Area, Abu Dhabi
- National Paints roundabout, Sharjah
- Al Mina Road, near SNTTA office, Sharjah
- Al Muteena Street, Deira Dubai
- Al Seef Street, Dubai Creek
- Mina Road, Abu Dhabi
- Salam street, Abu Dhabi
- Tecom Area, Dubai
- Al Dhaid Road, near Sharjah Airport Free (Saif) Zone
- Green Community, Dubai Investment Park (DIP)
- Naif Road, Deira Dubai
- Omar Bin Al Khattab Road, Deira Dubai
- Buhairah Corniche, Sharjah
- First Al Khail Road, near Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Dubai
From the Gulf News Archives, we then compiled a timeline of road deaths, specifically due to people jaywalking around the country.
06/05/2014: An Asian man was killed when he was trying to cross Al Muntaser Road, in Sharjah, from an undesignated crossing.
05/05/2014: A 38-year-old Egyptian woman died after being hit by a car on Maliha Road, Sharjah.
27/03/2014: A man was admitted to the hospital in critical condition after being hit by a speeding truck, while he was trying to cross the road near Sharjah Airport International Free Zone.
22/03/2014: A Filipino man was killed in the Sharjah Industrial Area when he was hit by a speeding car while trying to cross the road from an undesignated spot.
11/03/2014: An Ethiopian woman, who was in her twenties, was knocked down while crossing on Al Taawun Road, in Sharjah.
11/03/2014: A man was run over while crossing from an undesignated area in Sharjah Industrial area.
09/03/2014: A Filipina pedestrian died on the spot in an accident on Shaikh Zayed Road near Jebel Ali Free Zone.
17/02/2014: A man was killed on the spot when he was hit by a speeding car on Emirates Road near Interchange 7, Sharjah.
06/01/2014: A Bangladeshi man died on the spot when he was hit by a speeding car on Al Nahda Road, Sharjah.
16/12/2013: A woman died on the spot when she was hit by a car while crossing Maliha Road in Sharjah.
12/12/2013: A woman in her 20s was run over on Al Ittihad Road.
12/12/2013: An Uzbek woman was run over by a car while crossing from an undesignated area on Al Ittihad Road, in Sharjah.
07/12/2013: A 25-year-old Pakistani man was killed on the spot when he was hit by a car on the Nazwa-al Madam road in Sharjah.
07/12/2013: A 14-year-old school girl was killed while crossing at an undesignated area in Al Akamyah, Dibba, after she was dropped off by the school bus.
05/11/2013: A Russian child was injured when a car hit him near the Sharjah beach while he tried to cross the road.
25/10/2013: An 18-year-old Emirati died after a run over accident in Al Khan area in Sharjah.
20/10/2013: Two students were hit by a car when trying to cross the road in front of their school in Sharjah.
17/08/2013: An Ethiopian woman suffered serious injuries after being hit by a motorcyclist while crossing Al Ittihad Road from a non-designated area.
06/05/2013: A 29 year-old Asian woman was seriously injured in a hit and run accident on King Faisal Street in Sharjah.
31/10/2012: A speeding car caused a fatal accident on a pedestrian crossing in downtown Al Ain. The victim was crossing a road near Al Ain Mall.
28/03/2012: An 18-year-old Moroccan girl died after being run over by a car while crossing Al Murqab road in Sharjah.
