UAE | Traffic and Transport
Private firm to file accident reports
A private company will soon attend to minor accidents and write reports, which will help clear traffic quickly, Dubai's Police Chief said on Sunday.
- By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 June 19, 2006
Dubai: A private company will soon attend to minor accidents and write reports, which will help clear traffic quickly, Dubai's Police Chief said on Sunday.
Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, told Gulf News minor accidents will be dealt with by a private company, giving Dubai Police more time to handle major incidents.
However, if a motorist causes an accident under the influence of alcohol or drugs then the case will be referred to the police. Private companies will handle only those accidents in which no one is injured.
The project will start soon, he said.
"We want to concentrate on bigger cases and hence undertook this project with a private company. This system is followed in developed countries," he said.
Major General Sharafuddin Sharaf, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the First Security Group, told Gulf News on Sunday that the group has been authorised by Dubai Police to attend to minor accidents.
The group will attend to traffic accidents where no casualties are involved. Maj. Gen. Sharafuddin emphasised that if motorists are injured in the accident, then police will have to attend to them.
He said the service, the first of its kind in the region, is expected to be implemented within four months.
"The project will cost more than Dh30 million. Sophisticated technology will be used and patrols will cover the entire city to respond to accidents as early as possible. The patrols will work round-the-clock.
He said the group is holding meetings with police to discuss the mechanism of implementing the new system.
"We will be linked to insurance companies and the Dubai Police to report the accident directly," he said.
A fee will be charged for the accident report, he said.
"Either the motorist, who causes the accident, or his insurance company will pay. We are discussing the amount with the insurance companies, who will be notified of the accidents immediately.
"The system will help cut the amount being spent by the government on reporting accidents and it will also save time spent by police officials reporting minor accidents. Besides, it will also help clear the road quickly and prevent tailbacks."
The decision is part of Dubai Police's plan to privatise some services.
Grim figures
130 people killed in road accidents
About 130 people died in traffic accidents in Dubai in the first five months of the year. Police said at least one person was injured in accidents every three hours in the emirate.
The accidents resulted in the death of one person every 27 hours, the police said.
One person sustained serious injuries every 40 hours, while one person sustained moderate injuries every 11 hours.
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