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28 March 2024

Dubai tough on jaywalkers in Discovery Gardens

The Cross Safely campaign educated labourers about pedestrian road safety. (Supplied)

Published
By Parag Deulgaonkar

A number of residents have been fined for jaywalking in Discovery Gardens, a master community in Dubai with 291 buildings, following Dubai Police launching its ‘Cross Safely’ campaign earlier this month.

“I was fined for jaywalking last week,” said SJ, a resident of Zen cluster in Discovery Gardens.

“My friend dropped me near the Gardens and I crossed the road, as I always do, to reach my building in the Zen cluster. I was handed over a fine of Dh200 for jaywalking,” he added.

“A lot of people with children simply run and cross the street to get to the bus stops or reach the grocery stores. “We see everyday people crossing the roads.

“Last week, we saw a number of people being fined for jaywalking,” said Patrick, who stays in the Gardens.

Dubai Police has urged residents to cross streets only at designated areas to avoid fatal accidents.

Acting Director-General of Dubai Traffic Police, Col Saif Muhair Al Mazrouie, said 11 jaywalkers have been killed since the beginning of 2014, with 98 suffering from varied injuries.

“More than 80 per cent of pedestrians lack road-crossing culture,” said Mazrouie and added that since January this year, about 350 run-over accidents have been reported.

Dubai Police in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour has begun a campaign to spread safe traffic culture among workers.

Spot fines

A person fined for jaywalking has to pay the fine on the spot. If the person does not have the money to pay the fine, he will be taken to the nearest police station.

“When a person is caught jaywalking the officer on duty will ask for identification. Then, if that is in order, the person must pay the fine on the spot.”

“If the person does not have the money and cannot get it quickly to the site of the infringement, the person will have to accompany the officer to the nearest police station and wait there till the fine is paid,” Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, Director of the General Directorate of Traffic in Dubai, had said.

New pedestrian bridges

The Road and Transport Authority announced this month it plans to build 19 pedestrian bridges in 2014 and 2015 in important areas of the city.

According to the authority, seven bridges will be constructed this year, and the remaining 12 bridges are set for construction next year.