Call for minibus speed governors in Dubai

Dubai: The importance of fitting minibuses with speed governors has again surfaced after another life was lost in an accident involving a minibus late Friday night.

Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution, reiterated his call to fit speed limiters in minibuses.

Recently seven people have been killed and tens of others injured in minibus accidents caused by speeding.

On Friday night at 9.30pm, a minibus driver was burnt to death and two others seriously injured when the vehicle swerved and hit a cement barrier on Shaikh Zayed Road opposite Ibn Battuta Mall heading towards Abu Dhabi.

Bu Farousha said the front part of the minibus caught fire and the driver was burnt to death.

Bu Farousha said the Public Prosecution assigned Dubai Police's accidents planning committee to prepare a technical report of the accident.

He said the private sector must play a bigger role in supervising minibus drivers.

Talks: Lower the risks

Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of Dubai Police's Traffic department, said the speed of minibuses will soon be limited to 100km/h.

He said the traffic department and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) are coordinating the plan. His remarks came after a meeting last week with representatives of more than 50 companies that own or rent minibuses.

The open discussion was aimed at finding reasons for accidents involving minibuses.