Death rate in Dubai road accidents much lower than in other Gulf cities: police

The death rate in road accidents in Dubai, at three casualties per 100,000 people, is much lower than the casualty rate of 15 in cities in other Gulf and Arab countries, according to the local police.

Speaking at a news conference in Dubai on Wednesday, Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, Assistant Adjutant General of Dubai Police for Operations, said 151 people died in road accidents in Dubai in 2014 until mid-November compared to 147 during the same period of the previous year.

Colonel Saif Mohair Al Mazrouei, Director General of the Directorate of Traffic, was present at the press conference.

Al Zafeen said the increase in road deaths is not significant considering the rise in Dubai’s population and the increase in the number of driving licences.

Dubai Police is continuing its efforts to reach cut road deaths to zero per 100, 000 inhabitants by the year 2020, he added.

Road deaths in May 2014 rose to 19 from seven in the same month of the previous year, in April from 12 to 20 and eight to 15 in October. In June 2014, mortalities dropped from 15 to five, in July from 17 to 13 and in August from 13 to nine.

Meanwhile, the number of traffic offences in Dubai totaled 2,255,343 till October-end this year. 62,823 vehicles were booked during this period.

Speeding topped the list of offences at 1,320,474 or 59 per cent of the total. Light vehicles accounted for 1,312,594 offences and 7,880 by trucks. There were 1,230 offences of jumping red light during this period.

Al Zafeen said that 80 per cent of accidents happen due to excess speed, noting that the Federal Traffic Council has rejected a proposal to cut the margin speed set at 20km per hour over the speed limit on the road. The council, however, agreed to reduce the margin of speed for trucks, taxis and buses to 10 km more than the speed limit on the road.

Al Mazroui said 48 radars were added during the current year in Dubai, bringing the total number deployed to 425, including both fixed and mobile.
 

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