Dubai Eight people died in car accidents in the first six weeks of this year compared to 18 in the same period last year, Dubai Police said.
The reason behind the drop in fatalities was intensifying police patrols and mobile radars on the two roads with the highest death tolls, namely Dubai Bypass Road and Emirates Road, according to Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of Dubai Police's Traffic Department.
In February 2011, 12 deaths were reported, while there were 30 fatalities in February 2010. Speeding continued to top the list of violations in January with 141,150 violations registered, out of which 2,240 violators were caught driving between 41 and 60 kmph above the speed limit, and 1,621 were driving over 60 kmph above the speed limit.
"There was one death and two sustained serious injuries in truck accidents on Dubai Bypass Road in January 2011, while in the first six weeks of this year we had no deaths or serious injuries on this road," Major General Al Zafein said.
Under the influence
Some 4,571 motorists were slapped with lane discipline fines and 4,272 failed to keep a safe distance, while only 59 were caught driving under the influence of alcohol or psychotropic substances, according to the department.
On Friday, a collision between two vehicles on Dubai Bypass Road left two people severely injured and five others with moderate injuries, while another collision and overturning accident on Dubai-Al Ain Road resulted in the injury of three Emirati men.
