3 deaths, 37 injured on Dubai roads in first 10 days of Ramadan

Dubai Police has called on motorists to abide by traffic rules, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, and show patience and restraint with other drivers during the hours before iftar.

According to Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of the General Directorate of Traffic in Dubai Police, they recorded three deaths during the first ten days of Ramadan and 34 injuries in 47 different traffic accidents.

This compares to one death and 23 injuries from 29 accidents during the same period last year.

Brig. Al Mazroui pointed out that the most serious traffic accidents and fatalities were caused by drivers who, as a result of tiredness and fasting, drive recklessly and commit serious violations such as excessive speeding, not leaving an adequate safe distance between vehicles, overtaking dangerously, and not adhering to lane discipline.

As part of Dubai Police's campaign 'An Accident-Free Ramadan', Brig. Al Mazroui added that they had distributed 63,800 iftar meals during the first ten days of Ramadan on roads before Al-Maghrib prayer to alleviate the sunset rush and raise drivers' awareness of safe driving.

Colonel Turki bin Faris, Director of the Command and Control Centre in the General Department of Operations in Dubai Police, said during the first ten days of the holy month of Ramadan, they recorded 2,569 traffic reports and received 158,380 calls on the emergency number (999), and 21,865 calls via the (901) call centre.

He further indicated that the (901) call centre in the General Department of Operations also handled 2,456 emails and 2,917 inquiries via the "live chat" service available on the Dubai Police website.