DUBAI: Dubai police have reported that they are winning the fight against traffic fatalities in the emirate, which once had the highest rates in the world.
The number of road deaths for the past 11 months was 202, compared to 257 over the same period last year. This is a reduction of just over a fifth. The figures are good news for authorities who had been fighting a losing battle to cut down on road deaths in the past. Traffic accidents are the second biggest killer in the emirate after cardiovascular-related diseases.
A constant rise in the number of road fatalities prompted authorities to amend the federal traffic law last year, which now imposes hefty penalties and points on driving licenses. Director of the General Department of Traffic of Dubai Police, Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, attributed the drop in fatalities to increased vigilance, a wider police presence on the roads and strict enforcement of fines.
“We issued more than two million fines this year and confiscated 1,119 vehicles after their drivers exceeded the maximum number of black points, which is 24.” He added that the installation of 500 speed cameras all over the emirate has helped cut down on the number of speeding motorists, who cause most fatal accidents. Another tactic that has also helped in reducing the fatalities was a crackdown on pedestrians who crossed the main highways. “This was done partially through educating laborers, the main culprits, and the installation of more pedestrian crossings. This year alone we organized awareness campaigns that educated more than 250,000 workers on road safety,” he said. Al Zafin said the figures revealed 10.8 deaths for every 100,000 people this year, compared to 15.68 in 2008, he said. This indicates Dubai road fatalities are now on par with other developed countries like Spain, which reports 10 fatalities per 100,000. “This is very good news for us and proves that our strategy is bearing fruit,” he said.
