Dubai: Dubai Police have launched an awareness drive among road users on the importance of keeping safe distance after 14 people were killed in 207 traffic accidents due to tailgating, police said on Wednesday.
Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, director of Traffic Department in Dubai police, said the two-month campaign aims to reduce the number of accidents on Dubai roads and the consequent death toll this year.
“It is very important to keep safe distance between vehicles on the roads. Motorists must be careful as tailgating is a deadly offence especially on highways,” Brigadier Al Mazroui said.
Police said that 38 people died last year for not leaving safe distance between vehicles while, this year, 14 people lost their lives and 151 sustained injuries for the same reason during the first quarter of 2017.
“Most of the deaths was on highways like Emirates Road as 14 people were killed in traffic accidents last year. We also had 10 fatalities on Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road last year because of tailgating,” he added.
Indian were on top of the list as 12 of them lost their lives, followed by 11 Pakistanis and 10 Emiratis last year.
Dubai Police registered 21,846 traffic offences against motorists for not leaving safe distance between vehicles during the first quarter of 2017.
Last year, Dubai Police issued 77,137 fines to motorists for tailgating.
The fine for not leaving safe distance between vehicles is Dh400 and 4 black points.
“Those number shows the need to educate people about the importance of this offence. If people are sure to leave safe distance, then they can save their lives and the lives of other road users,” Brigadier Al Mazroui added.
Dubai Police will deliver lectures in government organisations and private companies as well as distribute posters and pamphlets in shopping malls.
“We will have more patrols to crack down on tailgating, especially on Emirates and Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Roads,” Brigadier Al Manzouri said.
