31 road deaths in Dubai since January

Of those killed, almost half were between the ages of 27 and 35, Dubai Police said.

Col Saif Al Mazrouei fines a jaywalker in Dubai. Five people died after being run over between January and March. Courtesy Dubai Police

DUBAI // Thirty-one people were killed and more than 500 injured on Dubai’s roads in the first quarter of this year.

Of the dead, almost half were between the ages of 27 and 35, said Col Saif Al Mazrouei, director of Dubai Police’s General Department of Traffic.

He said that run-over incidents made up a large proportion of road accidents.

Five people were killed and more than 90 injured in 86 such incidents in the first three months of this year.

Last year, Dubai Police recorded 98 incidents in the same time period. Twelve people were killed and 102 injured.

Police stopped 64,261 pedestrians for jaywalking last year, and 17,326 have been cited during the first quarter this year, Col Al Mazrouei said.

The fine for crossing from an undesignated area is Dh200.

“Almost all run-over incidents lead to death or a permanent physical disability,” he said.

“The traffic department will crack down on people crossing roads from undesignated areas and on motorists who do not give pedestrians the right of way.

“People who cross from undesignated areas are making a big mistake that may lead to their graves, all for the purpose of walking a shorter distance.”

He said that despite continuous awareness campaigns, many residents cross illegally, even in front of police officers. This proved a lack of traffic education and the police would increase efforts to raise awareness and beef up patrols along outer and inner roads.

“We will continue with our awareness campaigns, hand out brochures and give lectures to road users to put an end to such accidents and decrease the number of deaths,” Col Al Mazrouei said.