Dubai: Accidents and their causes related to drink-driving have resulted in just 13 fatalities in the first 11 months of this year compared with 18 last year.
According to Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of the general department of Dubai Police Traffic Department, drink-driving accidents decreased by 24.1 per cent this year due to the strict rules and regulations and patrol units monitoring the city's roads.
Last year, Dubai police introduced two new testing devices to check the level of alcohol in the blood of motorists as part of their crackdown on drink driving.
The number of alcohol-related cases rose dramatically in 2008 compared to the previous year.
Salah Bu Farousha, head of the Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution, said in an earlier report Gulf News had stated that there was a 70 per cent increase in the cases between the first quarter of 2007 and 2008.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Mattar Al Muhairi, director of the police Forensics Department, the two new devices facilitate testing of suspects. Al Zafein also warned motorists against driving under the influence of alcohol during New Year's Eve celebrations, saying the police will keep watch.
He added that suspects would be referred to the forensics to check the level of alcohol in their blood, especially if the person was involved in a traffic-related accident.
The maximum punishment for drink driving and causing an accident is three years in jail and a fine of Dh100,000, and the minimum punishment is one month and a Dh30,000 fine.
