Dubai Police urge motorists to think twice before running a traffic light
Over 50 related accidents have been record so far this year…
When it comes to traffic lights, the rules are pretty simple: green means ‘go’, red means ‘stop’, and yellow is a cautionary warning that you should slow down.
Some people, however, take the latter to mean that they need to jam their foot on the accelerator and speed through an intersection like they’re in the starting grid of a Formula 1 race.
Dubai Police have issued a statement warning against this kind of behaviour, saying that it is ultimately dangerous.
“Many drivers accelerate to cross a traffic signal and this behaviour is deadly and causes serious accidents,” said Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, director of the Traffic Department at Dubai Police.
While there have been no fatalities so far this year due to motorists jumping a red light, numerous accidents have been reported. In the first seven months of 2017, a total of 56 traffic accidents, injuring 86 people, have been the direct result of this particular kind of reckless driving.
Dear Driver: Don’t drive recklessly and remember that there is always someone waiting for you to return safely.
— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) August 16, 2017
Thankfully, there is some good news, as while these numbers are not great, they are down from the same time last year where 146 people were injured in similar accidents with three recorded fatalities. Traffic tickets for this type of offence are also down from 29,328 to 19,270.
Dubai Police attribute this drop to the changes in traffic regulations that came into effect on 1 July. The new rules impose harsh fines for motorists who are caught jumping a light, including a Dhs1,000 fine, 12 black points and 30 days impounding of the offending motorist’s vehicle.
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Image: Getty