UAE | General

Motorcyclists 34 times more likely to be injured than drivers

Abu Dhabi road accidents down almost 40% from last year

  • By Nada Altaher, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 18:16 October 29, 2012
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Supplied

Abu Dhabi: Motorcyclists are 34 times more prone to injuries than motorists, Abu Dhabi police warned on Monday.

And motorbike riders who do not wear helmets are four times more likely to suffer from skull fractures than their head-geared counterparts.

According to Brigadier General Hussain Al Ahmad Al Harthi, Director of Traffic and Patrol, Abu Dhabi Police, motorcyclists and quad riders on the road should be closely monitored to ensure that they are abiding by traffic rules.

Al Harthi revealed that two died while 10 suffered severe injuries as a result of motorcycle accidents in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi within the past nine months, while 1,327 violations were given out to motorcyclists during the same period.

The traffic official urged all citizens and residents to call the Aman (Safety) service to report any nuisances which quad or motorbike riders may cause in neighbourhoods on the toll-free number 8002626 or via email or voice mail.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that four died while two others suffered serious injuries in 17 road accidents in the capital during the Eid Al Adha break.

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During the holiday period, from the 25-28 of this month, accidents occurred in the inner and outer roads of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

According to Colonel Khamis Eshaq Mohammad, deputy director of the Traffic and Patrols department of the Abu Dhabi Police, run-over incidents, collisions and reckless driving were the main culprits, especially at night when seven accidents took place.

The evenings saw six traffic accidents whereas four occurred during the morning and afternoon timing, Mohammad revealed.

The main reasons for these incidents was sudden overtaking, speeding, crossing a red light, not giving way, not leaving a safe distance between cars and not giving pedestrians the priority in crossing the road, the Colonel explained.

However, the number for this year’s road accidents is almost 40 per cent less than what seen during 2011’s Eid Al Adha, where 28 similar cases occurred in the inner and outer roads of Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and the Western Region.

Comments (4)

  1. Added 17:23 October 30, 2012

    I guess the licensing criteria has change a little. Most of the young bikers here do their lessons on a 200 cc motorcycle, obtain their license and immediately swing a leg over those 1000 cc, tripple digit BHP 'crotch rockets'. In western countries this is not possible. Obviously, buying one is very easy out here. But, these bikes are missiles and can often prove to be fatal with a slightest mistake. The way of riding, cornering, braking etc. are completely different from a normal commuter bike (as most of them are Race Replicas RRs) and you need to practice and gain experience to master the techniques of riding such bikes on the street and on the track. As they say, with power comes great responsibility, these young bikers have to learn and gain necessary skills to ride responsibily and safely. Just a helmet will never protect you from a supersport bike that propells you from 0-100 in just 2.9 seconds...!! You require proper gears to ride them safely and responsibly.

    Vinny, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 14:59 October 30, 2012

    Rather than just blame bikers saying they drive dangerously, why can't other road users respect bikes as a mode of transport? People complain bikers follow no lane discipline. But while riding in the morning on Emirates road, cars cut from both sides and almost side swipe bikers because they feel bikes are puny and they are more stronger. When powerful bikes do the same, these same drives feel offended and complain bikers do not follow any lane discipline etc etc... If bikes are parked on footpaths and between other cars, it will be a nuisance. But since there is no designated parking for bikes, where do we park now???? If I use the space of 1 car park just to park my bike, will you other road users spare me????

    Karthik, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 13:55 October 30, 2012

    If there is a further category of the statistic ( Type of the bike), it would be more informative. Majority of wrecks are superbikes/sportsbikes. Most of the time cars taunt bike riders into racing. And foolish riders respond with their ultra powerful motorcycles. Even a slightest mistake is fatal. The problem in this country is that its very easy to purchase superbikes and most of the time the superbikes land into the hands of youngsters with no respect, no constraints and no experience.

    Dhruv Pala, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 13:13 October 30, 2012

    Yes I met many of them while standing on red traffic signals or in a traffic jam. They go zig-zag in between cars; mainly the delivery boys of fast food outlets do this kind of offence. On other hand they park their vehicles on the divider lines of two parking’s making an obstruction to the paid parking vehicles. The trunk mounted on their back seat for carrying food makes really dangerous for others & themselves when driving zig-zag in traffic. I will definitely call 8002626 next time if this happens in front of my eyes.

    AL JABRI, ABUDHABI, United Arab Emirates

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