By Mohammed Al Sadafy www.emirates247.com
Number of deaths due to traffic accidents in Dubai during the first 10 months of 2010 decreased compared to the same period last year.
According to the statistics of Dubai Traffic Police, number of deaths per 100,000 also fell to 7.2, with just 11 deaths reported until end-October this year – a decline of 34.5 per cent compared to the same period last year, said Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zaffin, Director-General of Dubai Traffic. “The rates are now similar to those of Scandinavian countries. We are on track to achieve zero deaths per 100,000 population through the fatal speed campaign.”
Only March and July saw an increase of deaths this year. There were 20 deaths reported in March this year against 18 in the same month last year, while July saw 14 fatal accidents compared to 10 last year, he added.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in the General Headquarters of Dubai Police, Al Zaffin said: “The statistics is encouraging. We are optimistic about improving it further as the target this year was to reduce the number to 12.5 deaths per 100,000 people. We aim to reduce number further down to eight deaths per 100,000 only next year.”
Meanwhile, injuries and deaths in the year totalled 1,728 compared to 2,403 during the first 10 months of last year; this is a decline of 28 per cent.
Al Zaffin sad: “Mortality rate and injuries due to accients in Dubai is the best in the UAE.”
“In Abu Dhabi fatal accidents reduced by 17.8 per cent during the first nine months of this year compared to that of last year, while Sharjah witnessed a 20.8 per cent decline and in Ajman it fell by 11.1 per cent,” he added.
Causes
This progress, Al Zaffin said, was due to the federal traffic laws and the Traffic Points System. Also, efficient patrols and public awareness campaigns have helped reduce traffic mortality rates, he said.
Similarly, installation of radars helped keep check on speeding motorists. Dubai has about 530 radars, including 320 fixed radars, 39 mobile ones and 157 for exclusively monitoring pedestrians and 14 Jin radars.
Al Zaffin said Dubai Police will start campaign to educate motorbike riders. Plans are on to distribute flouroscent jackets to them.
The police are also planning to open more pedestrain crossings on busy roads such as Emirates Road, especially after seeing how popular footbridges near metro stations have become.
Meanwhile, talking of the causes of accidents, Al Zaffin said driving at high speed, not maintaining minimum distance between vehicles caused 49 deaths in 2010 compared to 54 deaths last year. Though it was a decline of 9.2 per cent.
About 34 deaths were reported due to indirect impact of an accident, which was 40.3 per cent less than the 2009 that saw 57 deaths.
Meanwhile, driving under the influence of alcohol claimed only three lives this year a fall from 13 in 2009.
Deaths caused by jumping red lights declined to five from nine in 2009. The number of deaths resulting from entering the street before making sure it is free of pedestrians and cars declined to 15 from 18. Deaths from incidents of non-compliance of route declined to 10 from 15 last year. Vehicles turning over claimed 64 lives compared to 88 last year.
Roads
Meanwhile, Emirates Road witnessed the most fatal of accidents this year in the whole emirate. About 22 deaths were reported on Emirates Road in the first 10 months of 2010 compared to 23 in 2009. While Sheikh Zayed Road saw 14 deaths compared with 10 last year. Dubai Bypass Road saw eight deaths compared with 16 last year, while Jebel Ali/Al Habab Road saw just one death against 13 last year. Dubai-Al Ain Road figures declined to seven compared with nine deaths in 2009. While on Al Khail road deaths fell to five compared with seven last year.
Accidents of light trucks claimed 12 lives compared with 20 last year – a decline of 40 per cent. While those involving heavy trucks dropped to 13 from 20 deaths; minibuses fell toseven from 18; big bus fell to three from nine and taxis claimed four lives compared to five from last year.
Age group
Meanwhile, motorbikes claimed five lives compared to seven last year. However, deaths of bicycle riders rose to seven from just twolast year. In terms of age of drivers, 26-30 year olds caused the death of 29 people, while 36 to 40 year-old drivers were responsible for the lives of 25 people. Motorists between the age group 22-25 years caused accidents that took lives of 21 people, drivers more than 50 years killed 16 people. Meanwhile, 18-21 year olds claimed 10 people.
Nationalities
Indians topped the chart causing accidents that claimed 27 people in the first 10 months of thsi year. UAE nationals followed closely behind claiming 24 people, while Pakistanis drivers caused the death of 21 people, Egyptians were responsible for 17 deaths and Syrians 10 people.
Number of traffic violations declined to 1,980,696 from 2,045,540 last year. Cases involving use of mobile phones while driving increased to 38,205 compared with 6,642 last year.
Meanwhile, number of licences withdrawn declined to 744 compared with 1,119 last year, with Indian topping the list again followed by nationals.
