Patrols up to check dangerous driving

The number of drivers prosecuted for drinking and driving dropped by nearly 73 per cent from 2011 to 2012, after shooting up from 2010 to 2011 by 500 per cent.

The Dubai Police General Department of Traffic Director Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin has attributed the drop in accidents caused by drunk driving to quick arrests and seizure of alcohol, as well as the spread of awareness amongst the public on the negative impact of drink driving.

He confirmed that the police will continue its campaign against drunk driving throughout the year and a special team has been set up for this purpose.

He said that in the year 2012, drivers who drove under the influence of alcohol caused 295 accidents — causing the death of four people, while seriously injuring another four, causing moderate injuries to 26 and minor injuries to 63. Such accidents also resulted in the damage of 216 cars.

Maj-Gen Al Zafin said majority of these accidents occurred at night, though a significant number of them also took place in the morning.

The police recorded 58 cases against drunk drivers who caused injuries and another 295 cases for driving drunk, compared to statistics for 2011, during which the police registered 327 accidents which resulted in the deaths of 15 people, resulting in serious injuries to seven, moderate injuries to another 20 and minor injuries to 50, and leading to a damage of 577 cars.

Maj-Gen Al Zafin attributed the decrease in drunk driving incidents to strict action which has been taken by police and said that the Dubai Traffic Department would continue its campaign and take strict action this year. He said police teams would monitor drivers on all roads so as to catch drivers who looked or acted drunk and could not control their cars and keep in their lanes.

He said that four police groups would intensify patrols from midnight until 6am. He said that the patrols would stop any car if they suspected that the driver was under the influence of alcohol and he would be subjected to alcohol detection tests. Police would also issue tickets to guilty drivers before referring them to the Dubai Public Prosecution.

Maj-Gen Al Zafin said that legal authorities would impose strict penalties on the violators, as drunk drivers endangered people’s lives.

He said that the last amendment on 2007’s Federal Traffic Law would imprison drunk drivers and/or fine them no less than Dh20,000, while also issuing black points.

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