It costs Dh4.6bn yearly to treat road injuries: Dahi

Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-General of Dubai Police, has revealed that it costs Dh4.6 billion ($1.25 billion) per year to treat those injured in road traffic accidents in Dubai.

By 2020, Dubai Police aims to reduce road deaths to zero per 100,000 residents.

With a clear strategy, they aim to cut the number of fatal accidents by 23 per cent, to less than 100 this year, compared to 123 deaths last year.

This was announced at the ceremony organised to mark the launch of a campaign by Dubai Police.  The campaign which will run until end-April aims to educate motorists and residents in general about road safety.

Tamim said there has been a significant reduction in road fatalities since 2007, when the campaign was first launched. The number of traffic deaths declined from 334 in 2007 to 123 in 2012, a fall of 71.5 per cent.

The numbers are promising and the Dubai Police is confident of achieving their 2020 strategy with the help of members of the community and the media.

Tamim said Dubai Police has initiated several measures such as installing radars to check speed violators, reducing speed limits on accident-prone roads, increasing patrols on streets, increasing awareness by conducting campaigns in schools and other places.

According to last year’s statistics, at least 14 people below 28 years of age were killed last year, followed by 12 people above the age of 50 and 11 above 58 years.

As for nationalities, Indians topped the list of people who lost their lives in traffic accidents, followed by Emiratis, and Egyptians.

Dubai Bypass Road is the most dangerous, followed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road  and Sheikh Zayed Road. Dubai/Al Ain road and Jebel Ali Port Street are also accident-prone areas.

Majority of accidents occurred between 5pm and 8pm and especially on weekends. Fridays recorded 21 deaths, while Saturday saw 20.

Sudden deviation while driving was the major cause of road accidents, followed by bumper-to-bumper driving. 21 deaths were caused because of sudden deviation, wile 13 lost their lives because drivers did not leave enough space before the vehicle in front and 7 deatsh were reported while jumping red signal.

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