Ras Al Khaimah: Jaywalkers and reckless drivers are being targeted by Ras Al Khaimah Police in a safety campaign aimed at slashing needless deaths and injuries recorded at road crossings across the emirate every year.
The new campaign is being rolled out under the theme, “Pedestrian safety is our responsibility” but no date was given for the campaign period.
Colonel Abdullah Ali Al Munkis, director of Traffic and Patrol Directorate of Ras Al Khaimah Police, said the awareness campaign was part of the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Interior which is working to boost safety.
In 2012, there were many offences and traffic accidents relating to unsafe road crossings and crossing from undesignated areas. Of those, there were 41 incidents in which pedestrians were struck by vehicles, some of them major and caused death and some between minor and moderate causing injuries.
The new campaign aims to stem the number of collisions with pedestrians caused by rogue motorbikes and vehicles.
Police said the campaign was designed to educate the public through information guides offering advice on crossing roads safely and safe driving tips. There will also be hefty fines for offenders who breach public street safety laws.
Tips will be introduced to the public on the internal and highway roads of Ras Al Khaimah city through brochures and booklets published in Arabic and English as well as Urdu.
To get the message across on an even broader scale, Ras Al Khaimah police are cooperating with Ras Al Khaimah Educational Zone and will be delivering lectures in Ras Al Khaimah’s schools to introduce students to proper rules for pedestrians and motorists alike.
Prevention through education is key to reducing traffic-related fatalities down the road, he said.
Also police will cooperate with the public department to put zebra crossings on areas chosen by police.
Colonel Al Munkis said a fine of Dh200 will be levied against anyone who crosses a road at an area not designated for crossing, according to Article 147 of the Federal Traffic.
