UAE | Community Reports

Looking for safe passage

Although the number of pedestrian deaths in Dubai fell drastically — from 116 in 2008 to 42 in 2010 — many roads in the country still lack proper pedestrian facilities

  • Gulf News
  • Published: 00:00 July 23, 2011
  • Gulf News

Pedestrians struggle to cross the road in Al Nahda
  • Image Credit: Othman Qazi/Gulf News Reader
  • Pedestrians struggle to cross the road in Al Nahda.
Image 1 of 3
123

Looking for safe passage Car accidents have always been a concern in the UAE but increasing attention is being placed on pedestrian safety of late.

Although the number of pedestrian deaths in Dubai fell drastically — from 116 in 2008 to 42 in 2010 — many roads in the country still lack proper pedestrian facilities such as zebra crossings, footbridges, and speed humps.

Run for your life: UAE residents are being forced to jaywalk dangerously due to a lack of pedestrian crossings.

        Credit: Cecilie Kallestrup, Videography and Manuel Almario, Reporting

Earlier this month, two women were killed after being hit by a vehicle as they crossed a major highway in Sharjah. In an online poll, 73 per cent of people felt they did not have enough pedestrian crossings in their neighbourhood. But just how bad is the situation? Watch a video on gulfnews.com as community journalists Cecilie Kallestrup and Manuel Almario visit some of the areas highlighted by readers in a survey. Gulf News' community reporters also give an indication by writing about their concerns over pedestrian safety in a variety of UAE locations.

Comments (1)

  1. Added 13:56 July 23, 2011

    The figures on the number of deaths that took place over the past few years is quite alarming and i appreciate the authority's for coming forward to set up few foot bridges for the benefit of the pedestrians. I would like to shed some light as there is a particular street in Quasis named Amman Street the road that i normally take to get to work and although there is a new signal set up it does not make any use as pedestrians are seen crossing the other side of the road when cars are traveling at a high speeds. This is dangerous and can knock down pedestrians on the road. More over, when the place is dark, motorists who are driving are not able to see the pedestrians crossing the roads. There is not even a single bridge for the pedestrians as they have to walk all the way near the signal and cross which is again time consuming. Its never too late to start. This road needs one pedestrian bridge and once this is set up i am sure pedestrians will make of this bridge.

    Mathew Litty, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Gulf News