Dubai road safety campaign is heading in right direction

DUBAI // Police handed out almost 19,000 fines for dangerous driving on Emirates Road and Dubai Bypass Road in the first two months of this year, including 18 to motorists driving in the wrong direction.

The fines were part of a campaign to reduce fatalities on the two roads, which each accounted for 14 deaths last year, making them Dubai's deadliest.

Altogether, 18,941 fines were issued; 2,881 for not having suitable tyres; 1,146 for not wearing seat belts; 259 for overtaking on the hard shoulder; 129 for sudden swerving; 57 for not leaving enough distance between vehicles; 18 for driving in the wrong direction; 15 for reckless driving; and 11 for "making noise".

The remainder of the fines were not specified, but most are thought to be for speeding.

While the number of deaths fell during the campaign, there was a slight increase in injuries.

"The campaign has been successful and this is reflected in the drop of fatal accidents registered in the first two months of this year compared with 2011," said Maj Gen Mohammed Al Zaffin, the head of Dubai Police's traffic department.

There were 21 accidents on Emirates Road in the first two months of this year. Nobody died but four were seriously injured and 29 suffered moderate or minor injuries. In the same period last year, two people died, three were seriously injured and a further eight suffered moderate or minor injuries.

On Dubai Bypass Road there were seven accidents in January and February this year. Two people were seriously injured and 11 suffered moderate or minor injuries. In the same period in 2011, one person died and another person was seriously injured.

This week, police also launched a drink-driving awareness campaign that will focus on hotel guests. Last year drink driving caused 15 deaths - about 13 per cent of road fatalities.

Anyone caught drink-driving receives an automatic jail term and a fine to be decided by the court. The driver will also incur 24 black points and have their car confiscated for 60 days.

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