Dubai: Multiple backups delayed road users in some parts of Dubai on Wednesday morning, including those who were catching a flight at Dubai International, due to at least four road crashes.
An accident was reported at 7:10 am on the Airport Road opposite Bin Sougat Centre towards the direction of the emirate’s main aviation hub, causing delays to motorists, according to Dubai Police.
Traffic was also backed up on Hessa Street opposite the Saudi German Hospital towards Shaikh Zayed Road due to another accident at 8:09am.
A couple more road crashes occurred on Al Meydan Road, just opposite the Dubai Bowling Centre, towards Shaikh Zayed Road at 9:21 am, and on Hessa St opposite Emirates Identity Authority towards Shaikh Zayed Road at 8:53am.
There were no reported casualties, but the public has been advised to drive safe and use alternative routes.
Elsewhere, commuters were also stuck in traffic jams, particularly on Shaikh Rashid Road, Dubai-Sharjah Road, Shaikh Zayed Road, as well as in many parts of Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, Deira, Al Rigga and Naif at past 9am.
From January to June this year, Dubai Police recorded 1,250 major road accidents that killed 23 people and injured 884 others. In the same period last year, there were 1,447 major road crashes that killed 76 people and hurt 996 others.
The number one cause of these mishaps was sudden swerving, which resulted in 317 serious accidents that killed 23 people and 268 others, according to authorities.
Not using the designated lanes for light vehicles was cited as the second-most common cause of road fatalities, followed by failure to maintain a safe distance between vehicles.
Road delays have been a perennial problem for motorists during rush hours, but highway congestions in Dubai aren’t the worst in the world.
According to the Inrix Global Traffic Scorecard, which rated the traffic situation in 1,360 cities around the world, Dubai’s traffic congestion is ranked 208th as of 2017, an improvement from the previous year’s 174th position.
Commuters in the emirate spent 29 hours on average in rush-hour traffic last year, a far cry from 102 hours in Los Angeles, the most congested city.
