UAE | Traffic and Transport
20% rise in deaths due to accidents
Some 79 people were killed in road accidents in the first quarter of this year compared to 65 during the same period last year, an increase of 20 per cent, police said.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:15 May 21, 2008
Dubai: Some 79 people were killed in road accidents in the first quarter of this year compared to 65 during the same period last year, an increase of 20 per cent, police said.
Most of the accidents were reported on Shaikh Zayed, Dubai-Al Ain and Emirates Roads and were mainly caused by reckless driving, speeding, not abiding by lane discipline, incorrect overtaking and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of the Dubai Police Traffic Department, said that traffic violations over all have increased by more than 52 per cent compared to last year.
"More than 720,000 violations have been registered during this year's first quarter, whereas about 400,000 violations for the same period last year," said Al Zafein.
Black points
Speed violations had gone up by 70 per cent and blocking traffic flow has increased by 144 per cent. Motorists not wearing seatbelts have increased 10-fold.
Moreover, some 256 people have already exceeded their 24 black-point limit.
However, traffic violations on traffic junctions have decreased by more than 40 per cent.
"Radars installed on traffic junctions have helped to reduce violations, therefore we are planning to increase them by 100 per cent," said Al Zafein.
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