Dubai: Speeding, lane-jumping, drunk-driving and swerving are among the major causes of fatal accidents, according to Dubai’s top traffic prosecutor.
“Traffic prosecutors questioned nearly 35 suspects involved in traffic accidents that resulted in deaths since this year and the end of August. The major causes of deadly accidents have been driving under the influence of liquor, changing lanes and/or swerving suddenly and driving at high speeds,” Senior Chief Prosecutor Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution (TPP), told Gulf News on Tuesday.
His comments came in light of a recent ruling against an Asian driver who was jailed for a year and fined Dh20,000 for driving under the influence of liquor and accidentally killing a passenger who was in the car he hit.
The Dubai Traffic Misdemeanour Court’s Presiding Judge Mohammad Al Batal also ordered the 59-year-old driver to pay Dh200,000 in blood money to the victim’s parents.
The defendant’s driving licence was suspended for one year.
Prosecution records said the defendant consumed liquor before being involved in the deadly accident in July.
“The accident happened due to reckless driving and sudden swerving. The accused was under the influence of alcohol when he surprisingly swerved his car and hit another vehicle. The second vehicle’s driver was injured while another passenger succumbed to his serious injuries. Prosecutor Hamad Al Ali carried out the investigations which showed that the defendant had 94 mg/dl of alcohol in his blood,” according to Bu Farousha.
Drivers involved in fatal car crashes are usually sent to provisional detention and subject to thorough investigations, according to the TPP’s head.
“We hear statements of prosecution witnesses and traffic policemen and we confront the suspects with our findings. We constantly study the technical reports very thoroughly to stand at every party’s [driver and victim] level of responsibility and involvement in the accident. Suspects involved in fatal accidents remain in provisional detention until the investigations and all required procedures are concluded. Such suspects are only released after indicating their liability and how seriously they were responsible for the accident,” said Bu Farousha.
Furthermore he said 32 cases were dropped against suspects involved in deadly accidents after the suspects themselves died.
The 59-year-old defendant was charged with driving recklessly and under the influence of liquor. He was also accused of wrecking two cars and killing a person and injuring another.
The primary judgment remains subject to appeal.
