DUBAI // One person has died and 14 others have been injured in several road incidents in Dubai in the past three days.
The first — involving a car and a lorry — took place on Emirates Road nearby Al Maktoum Airport and led to the death of the car’s driver, with three others suffering moderate injuries.
Brig Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, director of Dubai traffic police, said: “The accident happened on Friday at 3.30am after the car’s driver was overspeeding and hit the lorry.”
A rescue team had to cut the driver free from his car. He was pronounced dead at the scene and was taken to the police forensics department.
“A second accident occurred on Friday in Global Village after a car hit a bicycle. The bicycle driver, Asian, suffered serious injuries,” said Brig Al Mazroui.
Another Asian cyclist was also injured when a Range Rover hit his bike, while a pedestrian was injured by a car behind the Iranian consulate on Al Wasl Road. “A man lost control of his vehicle and ran over a pedestrian on Saturday at 10.15pm,” Brig Al Mazroui said.
A fifth accident occurred when two buses collided, resulting in injury to eight people, on Sunday at 5.15am.
Brig Al Mazroui said: “One of the bus drivers failed to stop at a red light signal and hit the other bus.”
One motorist, from Lebanon, said the driving has been “the worst” this Ramadan.
Jumana Naboulsi, a mother of two pupils at The International School of Choueifat, said: “I always drop and pick up my children from school. This week, everyone is driving fast and recklessly. I saw drivers not stopping at red signals or for pedestrians, many parking in the disabled parking spaces and other who suddenly swerve.
“Also, many drivers are talking on the phone while driving. They don’t understand that they are endangering their lives and others on the road.”
Farah Mohammed, a university student, 21, said: “The traffic rules on the roads should be understood and followed by everyone but, unfortunately, that is not the case, as people during Ramadan want to reach home no matter how congested the road is or the speed they are travelling at.
“It’s like in Ramadan, the concentration on the road drops to the minimum and what we are having during the iftar meal becomes our major focus.”
Ms Mohammed added that one of the most reckless moves was not using indicators while changing lanes, surprising other motorists with their movements.
Police urged motorists to be cautious when driving during Ramadan and to abide by traffic rules.
nalramahi@thenational.ae
