Anti-speed campaign to cut Dubai road deaths

Speeding Kills initiative aims to further reduce falling fatality and accident rates.

122 people were killed in 2,258 road accidents in the first nine months of this year. Courtesy Dubai Police

DUBAI // Seven people were killed and 43 injured on Dubai’s roads in 52 accidents involving speeding vehicles in the first nine months of the year.

The statistics were revealed as Dubai Police launched its annual Speeding Kills campaign to raise awareness of such behaviour, which remains one of the leading causes of traffic accidents.

Last year, nine people were killed in 63 speeding accidents compared with six deaths from 48 crashes in 2013. The number of injured stood at 83 and 37 respectively.

Maj Gen Saif Al Zafeen, assistant chief of operations at Dubai Police, urged motorists to abide by the speed limits, adding that speeding was dangerous regardless of whether passengers wore seat belts or not.

“When a person is driving 40 kilometres per hour over the speed limit, he is no longer driving the vehicle, the vehicle is driving him,” he said.

According to Dubai Police, 122 people were killed in 2,258 road accidents in the first nine months of this year.

Last year, 177 people were killed in 2,975 accidents, compared with 160 fatalities in 2,944 crashes the year before.

Gen Al Zafeen said the Speeding Kills campaign, which first began in 2010, aimed to “remind the public of how dangerous speeding can be and to reach Dubai’s target of zero fatalities by 2020”.

Burhan Al Hashemi, managing director of Enoc retail, which has teamed up with Dubai Police in the campaign, said that his company regularly implemented campaigns to educate motorists about road safety.

“This campaign will play a key role in raising awareness about the risks of speeding and reckless driving,” he said.

The Health Authority Abu Dhabi said that traffic accidents were the main cause of fatal injuries, at a rate of 69.7 per cent among the 0-19 age category.

“Based on studies, only 2 to 3 per cent of families with young children in Abu Dhabi use car seats, which makes this initiative an urgent necessity,” said Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, director of public health and research, during a training course for 20 technicians from government and private entities in the capital on different car seats and their installation techniques.

“Car seats directly protect children from fatal injuries caused by traffic accidents; they can save lives in 80 per cent of cases.”

Meanwhile, Gen Al Zafeen has suggested building a separate road for lorries between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

“It is my opinion that huge lorries not use the same roads as other smaller vehicles,” he said. “It would be ideal if a motorway that runs from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah was established with rest stops along the way so drivers can take a break.

“The road should also have loading and unloading stops, where smaller trucks can take the cargo and drive on the inner roads.”

He said it was preferable that companies used minivans to transport equipment only and not passengers.

“If, God forbid, there is an accident involving a minivan, it is almost certain there will be injuries and/or fatalities,” Gen Al Zafeen said.

He also said that the Federal Traffic Council had suggested that the driving age be decreased to 17.

“We have agreed on the recommendation, but it is still awaiting the approval of the relevant body,” he said.

“It is not yet clear whether it will be implemented.”