Dubai: Dubai Police statistics revealed that speeding remained the second biggest reason of road deaths in Dubai last year with 45 deaths out of the 294 from road accidents.
Lack of consideration for road users was the top cause of road deaths.
According to police figures, Pakistani drivers caused the maximum number of accidents for the second consecutive year in Dubai. They were accused of causing 95 fatal accidents in 2008 compared to 83 in 2007. This was followed by Indians who caused 63 fatal accidents last year, compared to 81 in 2007. Emiratis committed 42 accidents last year compared to 57 in 2007.
The number of people killed in road accidents reduced to 294 last year compared to 332 in 2007.
Indian expatriates topped the list of people killed in road accidents for the second consecutive year. Some 107 Indians were killed last year compared to 128 in 2007 followed by 56 Pakistanis killed last year compared to 57 the previous year. However, the number of Bangladeshis killed last year increased to 23 as compared to 16 in 2007.
There are more than 900,000 registered vehicles in Dubai while more than 1.3 million vehicles use the Dubai roads every day. Indians topped the list of population in Dubai followed by Pakistanis. Dubai has a population of 1.7 million.
Emirates Road remained the most dangerous road as 46 people were killed in accidents on this road compared to 67 the year before.
On the Shaikh Zayed Road, the number of road accidents fell by almost 50 per cent and some 24 people were killed last year compared to 54 in 2007.
Commenting on the reduced number of accidents in 2008, an official at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said that improved road network, more cameras and strict policing have paid off. "Strict measures, increased fines for traffic violation" and awareness drives in coordination with the police have helped reduce accidents, he said.
Your comments
It is incorrect to say that people from a particular nationality cause the most number of accidents. The statistics should have been based on the percentage of a particular nationality in UAE.
Salman Ahmad
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 14:53
It is totally wrong to blame accidents on a certain nationality.
Accidents are caused by careless drivers regardless of thier nationality.
Syed Asir
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 14:48
Driving is a skill not a genetic feature or a cultural habit therefore it is irrational to blame a nationality.
The numbers highlight Pakistanis for a fact that there are more of them employed as commercial drivers compared to other nationalities.
In my opinion, poor driving quality is a result of less training and testing standards, increase in population and ultimately number of cars and insufficient infra structure.
Zahid Aslam
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 14:32
To address the driving standards in Dubai I would suggest a closer look at the level of tuition given by the driving institutes.
Danny
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 14:09
The survey would be more understandable, if we could also get the number of drivers for every nationality.
Yasar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 13:36
Speed is not only the reason for accidents on Dubai roads but high beam lights given from the rear of cars can also casue accidents.
Shahanwaz Mohammed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 12:35
I dont think Nationality matters in these cases.
Mohammad Faisal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 12:20
I agree with the figures.
Malik Mohammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 11:55
Even if we were to suspend, for a moment, the rationale for allocating blame to nationalities; surely we cannot overlook the confound that certain nationality groups are more numerous than others. This is irresponsible journalism.
Shazad Amin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 11:43
On a rough calculation - if Pakistani drivers give up driving then accidents could be reduced by around 40 per cent. Similarly the number of deaths on the road could be reduced again by around 40 per cent if Indian drivers stop driving. Summing up the above - around 80 per cent of the two big problems would be solved if the two kinds give up their habits.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 11:22
I think it is very wrong to make a report by nationality. This will create hatred among people, at a time when humans need respect at this stage of time.
Ahmad Sana
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 11:06
The above figures do not surprise me one bit. The driving standard is a joke. How can people vote British to be the worst drivers? We are the ones who let people out of junctions, do not tailgate or shoot down the hard shoulder.
Mark
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 11:03
I do not understand the relevance of this demographic. The number of Pakistani and Indian residents in the UAE outnumber all other nationalities in the UAE, which would result in a higher number of reported accidents.
Ineke
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 10:56
Thank you for a nice report. If possible, could you please tell me the licence holder ratio according to nationalities? Because I think most of the drivers are from Pakistan.
Saaj
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 10:49
Please add more police patrol on busy roads, I think it would reduce accidents.
Thomas George
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 10:36
The statistics would be more comparable if you disclose the number of driving licenses in issue by nationality, rather than total population. Many expatriates do not drive and therefore are not relevant to the statistics of accidents per driver per nationality.
Rodger
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 10:13
I certainly agree with Dubai Police's strict measures like putting radars in almost every road in Dubai. I would like to suggest that the police should start spot checks of speeding drivers. However, Pakistani drivers topped the list of top offenders of traffic rules. I believe that spot checks will reduce fatal accidents by a long shot. We all have families and therefore should respect the speed limits and show respect to our fellow drivers.
Adnan Ansari
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 27, 2009, 10:10
