Pedestrians involved in 20% of all UAE road crashes

Abu Dhabi: As many as 4,010 jaywalkers have been fined this year, police have said.

Authorities said they had been constrained to take firm measures because pedestrian-related crashes had accounted for 20 per cent of all accidents recorded in the country last year.

Video: Pedestrian safety on Dubai roads

"It is important for us to deter people from jaywalking as this results in accidents - mostly fatal ones. Over 4,010 fines have been handed out this year so far," said Colonel Hamad Adil Al Shamsi, the director of the Department of Traffic and Patrol Police.

On the other hand, the police have kicked off a campaign under the slogan 'Pedestrian safety is a collective responsibility' to spread awareness about proper road behaviour.

"Some people do not use pedestrian bridges and crossings, rather they choose to cross at random places. This is a dangerous practice and causes accidents," Al Shamsi said, emphasizing the need to follow regulations.

"Failing to adhere to pedestrian crossings is a traffic violation. Such pedestrians will be issued a fine of Dh200".

Al Shamsi said that new pedestrian bridges and underpasses are being constructed under the supervision of the municipality and were aimed at making roads safer for people on foot. He added: "Drivers, at the same time, should give priority to pedestrians and reduce the speed as they approach pedestrian crossings."

Motorists who do not give priority to pedestrians risk a Dh500 fine and six black points on their licence.

"Give priority to school children, those with special needs and to people crossing at places where there are no signals. And remember that not all pedestrians follow the rules, so be on the lookout, mostly during peak hours, at night etc."

Do you think there are enough pedestrian crossings in the UAE? Why has this become a problem?

Need more fly over in airport road, in order to avoid traffic jam within Madinat Zayed Shopping Center area as well as pedestrian can cross without any fear
Seddiqi Mustafa
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 16:44

I feel putting the blame on pedestrians is wrong. The authorities need to ensure that such things don't happen. Pedestrians won't cross the road if bridges or subways are available. For instance look at Sharjah - they don't have a single pedestrian crossing on the entire Itihad road stretch or the Tawun road stretch. In such a scenario, what are pedestrians going to do if they want to get to the other side of road? Of course cross the road!
Chris Fernando
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 16:40

Pedestrians should be fined if they don't use the footbridge etc.. but most of the stairs(Esclators) of the footbridge in Dubai all are not working (For e.g.near Cargo Village, Dubai Tennis Stadium, hamriya etc.)If these are not properly working and ask the pedestrians to use in this soring summer is wrong.
Halith Buhari
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 16:38

I will never blame the drivers for those accidents basically cuz i live in the tourist club area near the abu dahbi mall and seriously with pedistrian crossing and pedistrian bridges, still they choose to cross the main road while traffic lights are green , probably tooo lazy to cross over on the bridge... i am not sure what is happening now.. I love this city and it really hurts to see the level of commitment of its people towards safety
Sherine
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 16:27

Yes Some Jaywalkers carelessly crossing road but some car drivers also not stopping car where mentioned white lines example in Hamdan street-Abu Dhabi so many drivers are not giving chance to cross in the zebra crossings all cars are rushing to go but when traffic dept is there then Jaywalkers can cross easly.
Jaafar
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 16:06

First of all 200 AED is very less for pedestrians who cross at random roads . I feel they should be fined heavily so as to ensure that they dont repeat that mistake again. Because it endangers the life of Driver and pedestrian himself
Safeer
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 14:54

Last month I was travelling from Mussafah to Abu Dhabi, after getting down the bridge toward khalidya , I seen a person trying to cross the road with his bicycle , I just honked and alerted him with highbeam , but he didn't wait for me to cross, he just crossed in front of me then suddenly on the second track there was a high speed car rushed and he hit the car and I am just watching the person and cycle on air and fell down on the road.. I couldn't stop as there were many cars behind me. This is the regular scene is mussafah, authorities should take strict action on this issue.
Muneer Mahmoud
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 14:48

yes jaywalking is very dangerous both for the motorist and the jaywalker. what's important to understand here is to educate both the jaywalkers and the motorist if rules are violated penalty should be hefty. if someone honks at u when u stop at pedestrain crossing just put your hazard light on and report the no plate to the cops.
Sajal Thapa
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 14:35

It's very nice to tell pedestrians to use the foot bridges, but what about mothers with strollers? Anyone at RTA thought about that?? How are they supposed to climb the stairs? I live in Abu Dhabi and the only option for me is to walk several hundreds meters to cross at a signal...
Sophie
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 14:16

Once you entered abudhabi border coming from Dubai at second ADNOC petrol station i have seen lot of people are crossing the road which could be dangerous act during rush hours. i would appreciate if authority put the pedestrian bridge over the highway.
Ali Syed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 14:03

As an Ex Pat, a driver and a pedestrian I never fail to be appalled at the behavior of drivers towards pedestrians. I am constantly abused by horn and flashed lights when I stop at crossing points in the city. When as a pedestrian I refuse to be intimidated by the cowards in there blacked out vehicles with their 'I'm in a car, I own the road, it is my right to do as I please, how dare you delay me' attitude. The RTA should make the roads safer, educate drivers and please please get out there and put a coat of white paint on the crossings, most are so worn drivers could never see them anyway....especially when doing 100kph in town!!
Mike
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 13:20

No need of a very hi-tech overbridge for pedestrian which is just used only for crossing the road. The Authorities can install low cost crossing bridge at many places to avoid loss of life than protecting people from sunlight.
Mohammad Hasibu
Duabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 13:13

In order to abide by the rule as well as to protect their own lives,Pedestrians must cross roads through designated passages only like Zebra crossings, underpass / overpass etc. Contrarily , muncipality / RTA should also keep in mind the convenient distance for them while constructing such thoroughfare!
Sohail Gill
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 12:38

I've been for two months only, but there are some major issues:- no/few pedestrian crossing- drivers NEVER stop at those few pedestrian crossing- once that a driver stopped, the one before him honked and was very angry at him... i.e., "why have you stopped without any reason?"There is a very simple solution: put bumpers at each pedestrian crossing
Bob
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 12:37

Giving an AED 200 fine is not the answer for this Jaywalking thing. These persons who Jaywalks doesn't know what the rule is. So the consequence is to give them a seminar about Public Safety. AED 200 is a big thing. You can survive for food for a month. But giving education is priceless. They should inform people about it rather than taking money.
Koki
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 12:29

instead of giving fine to jaywalkers,its better if they are going to put fence in crowded places so the pedestrian will not have other option but to use the allocated pedestrian lane/bridges/underpass
George
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 12:25

It's very nice to tell pedestrians to use the foot bridges, but what about mothers with strollers? Anyone at RTA thought about that?? How are they supposed to climb the stairs? I live in Abu Dhabi and the only option for me is to walk several hundreds meters to cross at a signal...
Sophie
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 12:13

Road accident involving pedestrian should not be considered as driver fault, instead pedestrian should be fined
Jitendra Singh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 12:12

There are some places in Dubai and sharjah where Pedestrian crossing ,bridges or subway are badly needed. I have seen people driving properly yet some jaywalker comes into their way and yet these drivers are accused of careless driving. I think that's quite unfair . How can someone possibly know who will jump suddenly in front of your vehicle when you are heading on a high way and going on speed more than 80 km /hr.I think they should be strongly warned. Yet if you think as a jaywalker you would understand in this hot heat where you cant find taxis everywhere it pushes them more to break the rules and cross the road. So the only solution I see here is to build as many bridges or subway possible.
Hassan Yar Khan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:53

there should be pedestrian crossing on every bus stop, so it is much easy if people would like to go and take the other bus or taxi on the other way. Nobody would go and take the pedestration on the signal if the bus stop is just opposite their house or which is accessible to them. And its a waste of time if you're taking this pedestrian lane which is not appropriate to your destination or which is simply so far.
Laarni
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:49

pedestrian lane is ok, but footbridge?, sometimes people are getting lazy in using these footbridge especially those old model footbridge wherein you have to go around before you get on the top of the bridge, the newly built is ok like the in garhoud.
Mariadizon
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:48

Pedestrians cross anywhere on the middle of the road leaving the Zebra Crossing be it Karama or Bur Dubai. Drivers are always alert but sometimes pedestrians come as a surprise or shock on the middle of the road. Drivers cannot always be blamed if accidents are caused in this manner. Pedestrians who dont use Zebra Crossing should be asked to pay a fine of 1000 or 1500 each time they do it for everyones safety. Pedestrians never realise the importance of crossing on Zebra Lines.
Priya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:47

Not all pedestrians are at fault. At legalised pedestrian crossings, drivers will not even stop for school children to cross. I've got nearly hit so many times because of drivers driving on the wrong side in parking lots.
Arjun
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:39

It is good to charge the penalty for the jaywalkers. even i seen many accidents happen while jaywalking. Even the pedestrian cross are there, they wont use the line, specially in 3 lane roads. Only way to bring discipline is to charge heavy penalties.It will be good for every one.
Ajmal M
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:34

since the temperature rise and who cares to walk till the signal to wait for crossing and come back the same way we went to the signal in the scorching heat ,i think pedestrians should be careful and make sure no cars are passing by
Ajay
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:33

They have to construct more and more pedestrian bridges for people to cross the road. Even near Ansar mall there is no pedestrian bridge to cross the road. Other wise to go to the other side people have to walk 4KM .better idea is give one access to pedestrian in the metro crossing bridge
Roshan Lobo
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:32

yes it could be help the pedestrian bridge but not enough, the drivers must less there speed usually if they use the service road. i've been seen a lot of driver's even they are in the service road they drive so fast.they must put also a pedestrian bridge in the area of Al Qusais 3 and 4 along Amman and Damascus street.
Amyl Crouser
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:22

More pedestrian overpass, underpass or pedestrian crossings should be built near places where more people tend to cross especially along roads near commercial establishments. Roads near shopping malls like Ansar Mall, Sahara Center (Amman Rd)
Jun Kahoi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:17

Expert advice is to consider employing a team of qualified and experienced Road safety Specialists. Urgently low-cost Road Safety Audits are to be undertaken to prevent and reduce crashes, casualties and property loss. RSAs will assist in identification of existing and potential hazards and will provide safe and efficient facilities for the movements of all road users under all traffic and weather conditions.
Sumi Tiwari
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 10:47

This road accidents which involves pedestrians are most likely to be the fault of the pedestrians themselves. I've seen people who cross the freeways and highways where 100kph vehicles are running. These people i think should be put into jail for 1-2 days for them to realize that they are wrong.
Ruther
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 08:44

No, for example at Amman Rd. in Ghusais, the whole stretch from NMC Hospital to Zulekha Hospital there are no pedestrian crossing even one to cross on, and to top that the vehicles are always on full speed as there are no crossing on that part of the road.
Glen Lacbay
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 08:41