DUBAI // Eighteen people have been killed in traffic accidents caused by speeding between the beginning of the year up to November 15, compared to 13 for the whole of 2015, Dubai police said.
The force has launched its annual Speeding Kills campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of exceeding the speed limit, with focus on younger drivers this year.
According to the most recent statistics, 174 people have died in traffic accidents since the start of the year.
Maj Gen Saif Al Zafeen, assistant to the Dubai Police chief for operations, said the one-month Speeding Kills campaign, which was first launched in 2010, aims to remind residents, especially those between the ages of 18 and 24, that speeding is not worth losing their lives over.
“Many of the fatalities of traffic incidents are a result of speeding,” he said. “We find it is important to launch this campaign every year to remind the young people that speeding does kill and may make you, the driver, a killer.”
Maj Gen Al Zafeen urged motorists to abide by the traffic laws, adding: “They must remember that they are not the only ones on the road, but they share the road with many others.”
He also said that between the months of January and April, when the weather cools, more people take to the roads on motorcycles.
“We see many more young people on bikes, and we want to stress that Dubai Police cannot combat [bad driving behaviour] on its own, but the parents must be the first line of defence. It starts at home,” he said.
Up to October 23, Dubai Police issued 16,005 fines to motorists for driving 60km/h faster than the speed limit, a decrease from 20,859 fines last year.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
