UAE | Traffic and Transport
Eid holidays saw a huge increase in road deaths
During the Eid Al Adha and UAE National Day holidays, ten people died and 115 people sustained injuries in 879 road accidents.
- By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:17 December 14, 2008
Ras Al Khaimah: During the Eid Al Adha and UAE National Day holidays, ten people died and 115 people sustained injuries in 879 road accidents.
According to official statistics released by the Traffic and Licensing Department yesterday, the 13-day vacation had far more accidents than expected.
A total of 10 people lost their lives in road accidents in various areas of Ras Al Khaimah while injuries were classified as both moderate and serious.
Worst statistics
A senior officer at the department said the worst accident was on RAK International Airport's Al Saedi Street where three were killed instantly and another was pronounced dead at Saqr Hospital later.
The officer said that a total of 92 people of various nationalities lost their lives in road accidents in RAK since the beginning of this year.
But only 68 people were killed in road accidents in RAK last year, an increase of 35.3 per cent.
According to statistics, 64 of the deceased were expatriates and 28 were Emiratis.
The officer attributed the drastic increase in road casualties to the failure of drivers to adhere to traffic regulations and the massive increase in the number of vehicles on the streets.
The officer added that during the vacation, police patrols issued 163 violations to drivers who directly violated traffic rules and regulations.
Authorities aware
He stressed that the number of accidents on the roads this year should alert the authorities to the fact that serious steps must be taken to minimise the growing tragedy on the streets.
He added that the authorities will study these statistics to come up with creative ways to reduce the road accidents, especially fatal accidents.
The officer added that these statistics clearly show that drivers are guilty of a large amount of reckless driving, hitting pedestrians as drivers do not stick to a single lane.
The failure of drivers to leave enough distance between vehicles on the street, the failure of drivers to observe traffic flow, especially when coming from side roads onto main streets, are factors listed as major driver failings.
They also fail to check their tyres as indicated by the dramatic increase in burst tyres.
Share this article
More from UAE Traffic and Transport
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Sharjah book fair officially opens
- Help me find my precious cat
- AG expresses confidence in public prosecution's skills
- Meet to discuss ways to secure energy supplies
- Deyaar case: Expert asked to submit detailed report i
- Institute adopts best judicial practices
- Masters in construction law to address sector's concerns
- New council to strike demographic balance
- Technology can negatively affect girls: forum
- Dubai-based British athlete attempts to swim around Palm in record bid
- Steppe Eagle flies back home after enjoying UAE hospitality
- Heavy vehicle speed limits may be introduced
- Private schools form lobby group
- Green moves make desalting plant less damaging
- First well in relief project to honour scientist
Community Reports
-
Help me find my precious cat
Raif, my cute eight-month-old ‘fur ball', went missing in Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen area last month
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
