Dubai: Swerving is one of the main causes of traffic deaths in Dubai, according to a senior police official.
Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Chief of the Dubai Police Traffic Department, said on Sunday the practice claimed the lives of 41 people last year. The police official said the number was 21 in 2012.
The official said 148 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2013, and of these 41 died due to accidents involving swerving.
A month-long campaign about the dangers of swerving was launched at Dubai Police Club.
Statistics issued by the Dubai Police Traffic Department showed that swerving to change lanes topped the list of reasons for deaths on the road. The practice caused 484 accidents in 2012 in which 21 people died. The same number of people died in similar accidents in 2011 and there were 19 deaths in 2010.
The top three nationalities involved in the practice in 2012 were: Emiratis with 64 accidents in which seven people died, Pakistani drivers caused 53 accidents in which three people died, followed by 49 accidents caused by Indians involving three deaths.
Alarming rise
Traffic accidents in Dubai rose by a frightening 95 per cent last year resulting in almost double the number of road deaths.
The number of fatal traffic accidents last year was 132 in which 148 people died.
Maj Gen Al Zafein, who is the head of the Federal traffic committee, said that the traffic law will be revised.
“The traffic law in the UAE is old and must be revised to cope with the rapid development of the country.”
He said the fine for sudden swerving is Dh200 in addition to four black points but if the fine is issued in absentia no black points will be issued.
“This fine of Dh200 for sudden swerving is not enough for such a dangerous traffic violation,” said Maj Gen Al Zafein.
He said that 5,045 motorists received traffic fines last year for swerving.
The number of injuries due to traffic accidents in general has also increased as 58 people were seriously injured in 724 traffic accidents this year compared with 36 serious injuries in 675 traffic accidents from January to March last year.
“We want to reduce the number of deaths on the road. There will be a huge campaign that will target motorists and the public and the police will mainly use social media to raise public awareness about the dangers of swerving,” he said.
