Sharjah: The number of pedestrian accidents caused by cyclists dropped during the first three months of this year compared with the same period last year, Sharjah Police statistics revealed on Monday.
“Incidents of people being run over dropped from 11 with one fatality in 2013 to seven incidents with also one fatality this year,” said Major Abdul Rahman Khatr, director of communications at Sharjah Police traffic department.
Khatr called on cyclists to be attentive, not to ride in front of vehicles or randomly cross the road in order to curb the number of pedestrian accidents.
He urged cyclists and bikers to wear helmets and fluorescent safety jackets at night to enable motorists to see them and avoid collisions.
All road users should respect the law, he said.
Errant cyclists who disregard basic traffic safety laws on the emirate’s roads will see their bicycles permanently confiscated, Major Khatr warned.
Last year Sharjah Police launched a campaign to crack down on cyclists who did not adhere to traffic rules.
Pamphlets were distributed among cyclists and bikers. The campaign aimed to stop cyclists from riding against oncoming traffic as well as in prohibited areas, such as on highways.
The main thrust of the campaign is to discourage cyclists from weaving in and out of heavy traffic on Sharjah roads, a police official said at the time.
Police dispatched a pickup truck to patrol Sharjah streets on the hunt for cyclists violating the rules.
