Young drivers responsible for most deaths in car accidents since January

DUBAI // Motorists between the ages of 22 and 30 were to blame for most of the deaths on the roads this year.

Figures released by the General Department of Traffic showed that since January, drivers in this age bracket were involved in road accidents that caused the death of 21 people in Dubai.

Comparatively, drivers from the ages of 31 to 39 caused the deaths of 12 people, reported Al Ittihad, The National's Arabic-language sister newspaper. Drivers between the ages of 40 and 49 caused seven deaths.

Last year, motorists between the ages of 18 and 21 years old were involved in road accidents that led to the deaths of 15 people, representing nine per cent of the total deaths registered in 2015 and compared to one death in the first quarter of 2016 caused by the same age group.

Statistics from 2015 show that younger drivers in the 22 to 30 age bracket were responsible for the most deaths from car accidents in 2015, with 67 people killed in various incidents.

Some 46 deaths were caused by accidents involving motorists from the 31 to 39 age group and 38 deaths by the 40 to 9 age group.

Dubai Police aims to reach a zero road deaths by 2020 by raising awareness through campaigns and the white points system, which rewards motorists for good behaviour.