Drop in fatal crashes recorded

Dubai Figures from Dubai Police show 12 people were killed in car accidents in the first two months of 2012, compared to 21 during the same period last year.

Six of the 12 deaths were caused by failure to appreciate other road users, mainly pedestrians. Entering a road before ensuring it was clear caused two deaths, while speeding, sudden swerving, driving under the influence and poor lane discipline caused one each.

Driving too close to the car in front was primary cause of serious accidents with 84 reported, followed by failure to appreciate other road users with 54.

Lane discipline violations caused 51 accidents, driving under the influence 53, sudden swerving 59 and jumping red lights 38.

Entering a road before ensuring it was clear caused 33 deaths, negligence 28 and reversing dangerously 16.

Speeding only caused ten serious accidents, while reckless driving caused nine and driving under the influence of narcotics caused five accidents.

In the first two months of 2011, failure to leave a safe distance caused 71 serious accidents, followed by driving under the influence with 68 and sudden swerving 52.

Collisions topped the list of serious accidents with 383 cases, followed by pedestrian being run-over on 57, cars overturning 25, hitting the pavement 14, and hitting a cement or steel barrier with ten.

Pakistani drivers caused 56 serious accidents, Indians 53 and Emiratis 47. Men caused 211 serious accidents compared to 23 caused by women.

Three children between the ages of 12 and 15 sustained injuries in car accidents in the past two months while they were driving.

The total number of children injured in car accidents reached 31 including 10 pedestrians in January and February, compared to 18 in the first two months of 2011, out of which five were pedestrians.

Five of the injured children were between one and three years old, 10 were between four and seven, five between eight and 11 and 11 between 12 and 15 years old. They included 21 boys and 10 girls.