Abu Dhabi: Eleven people died while 84 others were injured during 38 road accidents that took place across the UAE during the recent four-day Eid Al Adha holiday.

The Ministry of Interior also revealed that failure to abide by road rules led to the incidents, adding that the Traffic and Patrols Department at the ministry had intensified its efforts to limit the occurrence of these events.

In fact, the department had announced increasing the number of patrols on internal and external roads, making awareness campaigns more extensive, informing members of the public on the dangers of road accidents and ways to prevent these.

These efforts included regulating the distribution of sacrificial meat and dispatching policewomen in areas with a high concentration of women.

Police officials called upon the community to drive safely and abide by the law in addition to keeping a safe distance between vehicles, refraining from hindering traffic by stopping on the side of the road and not using parking spots designated for individuals with physical disabilities or Civil Defence as this places people’s lives at risk.

Members of the public are also urged to stick to speed limits, refrain from using their mobile phones while driving as this leads to distraction.

Meanwhile, Dubai saw 20 serious traffic accidents and 22 injuries during Eid Al Adha holidays, but no traffic fatalities.

Colonel Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of Dubai Traffic Police, said that 15 people sustained minor injuries, six sustained moderate injuries and one was severely injured between September 24-26.

Last year, during the Eid Al Adha holiday there were 27 traffic accidents involving two deaths and injuries to 25 people in Dubai between October 3-6.

Brigadier Omar Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Deputy Director of the General Department of Operations at Dubai Police, said the operations room received 20,354 phone calls during the Eid holidays.

He said they also had calls regarding 462 traffic accidents, which ranged from serious to moderate and minor. He said that the accidents were caused by speeding, not leaving a safe distance, not abiding by lane discipline, recklessness and not being attentive.

Brig Al Shamsi urged all road users, drivers and pedestrians, to abide by traffic law and regulations, adding that Dubai Police are keen on spreading security and traffic awareness among members of society through ongoing campaigns and this had a positive impact in reducing traffic accidents during the Eid Al Adha vacation.

Brig Al Shamsi said that people should only call 999 in emergencies and 901 for non-emergency situations or for an inquiries.

He said people calling 999 for non-emergencies waste the time and effort of the officers at the operations room, who could be attending to people in need of urgent help.