Eid Al Adha holidays were observed in the UAE from September 1 to September 3, 2017. Motorists in the UAE were advised by traffic authorities to avoid dangerous driving and remain careful as roads were expected to be more crowded than usual during Eid holidays. While the motorists in Sharjah didn’t commit dangerous violations and Sharjah Police didn’t record any accident during Eid holidays, the road safety situation continued to deteriorate in Dubai. Over 700 road accidents were recorded in Dubai in just three days of Eid holidays, which put the safety of all commuters at stake.
Details of the Road Accidents Recorded in Dubai during Eid Holidays
Learning from past years’ experience, the traffic authorities made their best efforts to ensure maximum road safety during the Eid holidays, but due to the reckless driving behavior of motorists, Dubai saw a surge in road accidents during these holidays. According to Dubai Police, the Police Operations Room received 125,867 calls and 728 traffic accidents were recorded during the holidays. The Eid holidays made it a long weekend for people in the UAE, which meant more vehicles were on the road, thus increasing the risk of traffic jams and other traffic problems. On the other hand, the Sharjah Police received 14,364 calls, but didn’t record any road accident in the emirate, which highlighted the discipline motorists maintained during Eid holidays.
Reckless motorists in Dubai committed many major violations that caused dangerous road accidents. According to Dubai Police, speeding, distracted driving and tailgating were the major reasons behind the road accidents recorded during Eid holidays in Dubai. These three violations are amongst the deadliest traffic violations not only in Dubai but across the UAE as well. Motorists have been advised by authorities repeatedly to remain watchful while driving, particularly at intersections and residential areas in order to avoid dangerous road situations.
Also read: 3 Deadliest Traffic Violations of 2017 in Dubai Revealed
Why Traffic Problems Increase During Public Holidays?
Dubai is a metropolitan city with a larger expatriate population than other emirates of the country. The traffic culture is quite diverse, which makes management and control of traffic extremely challenging for the authorities. While the lack of understanding of the traffic rules amongst expats is a major road safety concern in Dubai, disregard of traffic rules shown by reckless motorists makes things even worse.
The ratio of young drivers is relatively higher during public holidays. This increases the risk of dangerous road situations as young drivers are found to be more vulnerable against challenging driving conditions than experienced drivers. Not following the basic road safety principles and violating traffic rules puts multiples lives at a serious threat, especially in public holidays when roads are already overcrowded.
Also read: Safe Driving Tips for Young Drivers in the UAE
Authorities Urge Motorists to Call 999 only for Emergency Services
While the authorities advised motorists to avoid dangerous traffic violations, they also urged motorists to call 999 only for emergencies. For non-emergency calls including queries about different services provided by Dubai Police, motorists are advised to call 901. A number of non-emergency calls were received at 999 during Eid holidays, which wasted the time of authorities and diverted their attention from emergency situations. This is why motorists should use 999 emergency service to only report an emergency situation.
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