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 Monday the practice had claimed the lives of 61 people in the past three years. 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 that led to deaths on roads. 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 in where seven people died, Pakistani drivers caused 53 accidents in which three people died followed by 49 accidents caused by Indians involving three deaths.
Maj Genl Al Zafein 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 roads. There will be a huge campaign that will target motorists and the public and the police will mainly use the social media to raise the awareness of public about the danger of swerving,” said Maj Gen Al Zafein.
