Jaywalking in Dubai: 41 dead, 9,000 fined

Forty-one people were ran over by vehicles and died while trying to cross the street at undesignated places in Dubai last year.

This was equal to one-third of the total number of traffic accident deaths in the year, said Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, director-general of Dubai’s Directorate of Traffic.

9000 people were fined Dh200 for crossing the road in undesignated places, Al Zafeen said during the launch of a ‘cross safely’ campaign organised by the Traffic Department in co-operation with Al Bayan newspaper and the World Malayalee Council.

The campaign will run for three months during which 10,000 orange shirts and pamphlets will be distributed to workers.

Statistics show that most of the people who died or were injured while crossing the road were Indian and Bangladeshi workers.

Maj. Gen. Zafeen said about half of those who died were cyclists. Dubai’s roads are not suitable for bicycles, he added.

In response to a question by Emirates 24/7, he said efforts are being made in cooperation with RTA to create more pedestrian crossings.

Maj Gen Zafeen said the campaign will focus on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Bypass Road and places where workers gather. Many drivers do not stop their cars for pedestrians in unmarked places, he added.

The campaign includes distribution of ‘cross safely’ pamphlets in Arabic, English, Urdu and Bengali to workers.