Jaywalkers, people who dart into traffic at undesignated places, are the bane of motorists, and this practice has been claiming many lives and limbs.
To abate this, Dubai Police have sent out a warning on Twitter, reminding a fine of Dh400 for people who cut across a street when they shouldn’t and from where they shouldn’t.
Crossing roads from undesignated places endangers your life and results in a fine of 400 AED.#DubaiPolice#YourSecurityOurHappiness#SmartSecureTogether
— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) November 13, 2018
The authorities in the UAE remind pedestrians that the human body is more vulnerable than metal during a collision, or that a person hit by a car even at 30 kmph has a 10 percent chance of dying, while a person hit by a car doing more than 60 kmph has only a 10 percent chance of surviving.
As the winter season approaches, people must be aware that many jaywalkers get hit in the fog or at night.
Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate revealed that, in 2017, the police booked 50,595 pedestrians for crossing roads illegally in the emirate. This was a 21 percent jump from the number of fines issued in 2016. Fifty people died in traffic accidents in 2017, which was a 21 percent drop from the 63 cases in 2016.
But the grim fact is that most of the run-over cases were due to jaywalking or motorists failing to give priority to pedestrians.
“I call upon pedestrians to commit to using tunnels and bridges designated for their passage. There are signs on the roads, tunnels and bridges to direct pedestrians when they are crossing internal and external roads,” Brigadier Ali Khalfan Al Dhaheri Director General of Central Operations at Abu Dhabi Police told TFT.
“A number of pedestrians ignore traffic lights and the traffic when they cross the roads, exposing themselves and others to the risk of being run over,” Brigadier Al Dhaheri added.
When the Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017 concerning Rules and Procedures of Traffic Control was implemented, the UAE government specifically defined jaywalking as a criminal act.
This could be you
In January this year, a man in his thirties was hit by a speeding vehicle in front of Al Hamra Mall on Sheikh Mohammad bin Salem Road in Ras Al Khaimah. Police said that the driver didn’t have a license, but the victim was also to blame. He was trying to cross the road from an undesignated area without making sure that it was clear of vehicles. He was pronounced dead at the accident site.
Smart solutions
Abu Dhabi Police are focusing on road safety awareness through programmes online and in real time. They issue messages on Twitter and Instagram, warning residents against using mobile phones while crossing roads, which is another cause of major accidents in the UAE.
Dubai Police are using new technology, called smart controller, that isn’t any old radar. Operated remotely by officers, using an app on their smartphones, its features include high-resolution imagery that can catch people queue jumping, speeding and jaywalking, amongst other things.
Sharjah Police have been coordinating with Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority to study different stretches and giving recommendations for accident-prone zones.
The traffic and patrols department in Umm Al Quwain has launched campaigns to ensure pedestrian safety, following several run-over accidents in recent years.
