8.02 PM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Public buses jumping red lights kill 8

Published
By Staff

Public buses killed eight people and injured 75 others in Dubai last year as a result of jumping the red lights. Dubai’s traffic police chief, who saw video tapes of the violations, said he was shocked and urged action against the drivers.

“Some of those drivers need psychological and professional rehabilitation,” said Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen.

“Video tapes of buses jumping the red lights show those drivers have a serious problem as they insist on doing this in a very dangerous way….I was shocked when I saw those films as I had not imagined these drivers to be so reckless.”

Zafeen said police records showed red light offences by business caused 34 serious accidents, resulting in the death of eight and injury of 75.

He said the death toll resulting from red light offences is considered very high and that many of those drivers simply risked the lives of their passengers and other road users.

“I saw one film showing a public bus going at a high speed just before the traffic signal…it then jumped the red lights while the cars from the other side were just getting ready to go…a deadly accident was narrowly averted,” he said.

“I think the problem with the public bus drivers is that they think they have a sort of immunity because they work for a government departments…I believe that because they work for these departments, we have to deal with them in a firm and crucial manner,” he added, quoted by Emarat Alyoum daily.

Zafeen called for more deterrent penalties against bus drivers including giving offenders black points for each offence.

He noted that under existing laws, drivers jumping the red lights are fined Dh800 and have their vehicle impounded. “In case of public buses, the vehicle is not impounded on the grounds it is a government property…this should prompt us to introduce more stringent measures against those drivers.”