Dubai Police urge motorists to follow safety instructions

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Dubai Police, represented by the General Department of Traffic, has announced the intensification of its traffic awareness efforts during the summer months coinciding with the "Summer Without Accidents" campaign, which the Ministry of Interior is organising and running until Sept.1.

This announcement was made during a press conference held at the Address Residence Hotel - Dubai Mall, in the presence of Major General Abdulla Ali Al Ghaithi, Assistant Commandant for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Director of the General Department of Traffic in Dubai Police, Brigadier Ahmad Alsam Al Naqbi, Director of Traffic and Patrols Department in Ras Al Khaimah Police, Head of the Traffic Awareness Committee in the Federal Traffic Council, Zaid Abdurrahman Al Qubaidi, Executive Director of the Retail Sector at "ENOC", directors of police stations, directors of sub-departments in the General Department of Traffic, and a number of officers and media representatives.

Al Ghaithi confirmed that the "Summer Without Accidents" campaign embodies the Ministry of Interior's strategy to make roads safer and is part of Dubai Police's strategy for a safe city and make Dubai's roads safer through awareness campaigns and initiatives that aim to increase the levels of traffic safety for all road users and urge drivers to follow safety instructions and guidelines.

Al Ghaithi pointed out that these annual efforts are part of an integrated work system involving the government and private sectors, which unite and support joint efforts to reduce the number of traffic accidents and related injuries and fatalities across the country.

Al Ghaithi highlighted the concerning number of traffic-related fatalities during the summer months (June 1st to August 31st) in Dubai over the past three years:

2023: 30 deaths, 45 severe injuries, 308 moderate injuries, and 283 minor injuries

2022: 36 deaths, 35 severe injuries, 314 moderate injuries, and 315 minor injuries

2021: 26 deaths, 41 severe injuries, 178 moderate injuries, and 217 minor injuries

Brigadier Ahmad Alsam Al Naqbi confirmed that this annual campaign strengthens the integrated efforts between all police agencies at the state level to enhance road safety and security.

Al Al Naqbi called on drivers to adhere to traffic laws and regulations, adhere to speed limits, avoid distractions while driving, maintain a safe distance between vehicles, and take preventive measures for vehicles and trucks by checking tyres, ensuring their safety, and replacing them if expired or showing any cracks or bulges. He emphasised the importance of using good quality tyres that meet specifications to avoid traffic accidents caused by tyre bursts, mainly due to the thermal pressure from high temperatures in the summer.

He stressed the necessity of following traffic safety and security procedures inside vehicles to prevent potential risks and reduce traffic accidents and their resulting fatalities, injuries, and material and moral damages. He also highlighted the importance of being aware of essential information about vehicle tyres and how to react in case of a tyre burst, providing safety tools in the vehicle, and not leaving lighters, perfumes, batteries, power banks, compressed containers, hand sanitisers, and gas cylinders in the vehicle.

Al Naqbi further emphasised the need for fire extinguishers to be available in vehicles so that motorists can intervene immediately and extinguish fires in emergencies, especially during the summer when temperatures rise.