Ajman jaywalkers are putting their lives at risk

Ajman police warn pedestrians that jaywalking is a big risk to life and limb.

Al Ittihad Road in Ajman, where police say jaywalking has become a blight on road and pedestrian safety. Reem Mohammed / The National

AJMAN // Impatient pedestrians are risking their lives by running across busy roads and ignoring designated crossings, police and residents have said.

Jaywalking is common on Al Ittihad Road and Corniche Street in Ajman city, with people regularly seen darting between traffic instead of using crossings or bridges, often resulting in death or serious injury.

Last week, two Asian men were killed trying to cross Al Ittihad Road. A 43-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 30-year-old died in hospital.

Yazan Bashar, a Jordanian civil engineer, said the lack of bridges for pedestrians to cross some busy roads was not an excuse for people to risk their lives dodging traffic, and the blame for any run over accident lies with them.

“Even if there is no specific pedestrian crossing area, it does not give them the reason to cross the road.”

The 25-year-old said that Ajman Corniche has many designated crossings, but at Al Ittihad Road near Ajman City Centre mall pedestrians can only cross under a flyover leading to Umm Al Quwain.

Mahmoud Abuhiba said more pedestrians crossings are needed, particularly in residential areas.

“Main roads need subways and bridges, and interior roads in densely populated areas need more high speed bumps with crossing areas,” said the 24-year-old Palestinian engineer, who added that pedestrians who risk running on to roads are taking their lives in their hands.

Maj Saif Abdulla Al Falasi, head of traffic and patrol department at Ajman Police, said jaywalkers endanger their lives – and the lives of others – by crossing roads at random places often because they are impatient and do not want to walk to the nearest crossing.

“We always say that the driver is the main reason [for accidents] and he has to pay attention while driving, but pedestrians as well are at fault because they should cross from pedestrian crossings to protect their lives, so the culpability is joint.”

Ajman municipality has installed fences along the central reservation on some main roads to prevent people crossing, but often people just climb over.

“We put out police patrols to monitor and fine them, in accordance with the law, which is Dh200.”

Mr Al Falasi added that the traffic committee holds lectures and produces brochures in Arabic, English and Urdu to educate residents on how and why they should use pedestrian crossings, bridges and not jump fences.

“We present lectures for school students, bus and taxi drivers and labourers working in big companies,” said Mr Al Falasi, adding the department is planning lectures for businesses with a high proportion of Asian staff, who make up the majority of victims in run over accidents.

There are also plans to build more bridges for pedestrians in addition to the five already in place.

“The run-over accidents on Al Ittihad Road lead to death because of the high speed of vehicles, but on Corniche Street the injuries are not serious due to the availability of many pedestrian crossings and the low speed of traffic,” he said.

Mr Al Falasi said that motorists must be careful, while all pedestrians must only cross roads at designated crossings.