UAQ residents concerned over stray animals on unlit roads

There is an urgent need for speed humps to be installed on the internal roads of Salma area.- Supplied photo

While the Salma area in Umm Al Quwain is undergoing huge expansion, residents in the area are concerned over unlit roads, let alone stray animals.
Mohammed Radwan, an Emirati national living in Salma area, said many of the roads in the area lack light. "The lamp poles have been installed for years without supplying electricity or fixing lamps for no clear reason and despite repetitive complaints."
Ashraf Abdullah, another Emirati national, said they have alerted the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa) of the problem, but they said there is no account for electricity to be supplied to these poles. "Lack of light poses a grave risk to drivers and passersby during night. It is also a setback to public safety and security where new villas have been built for the UAE citizens."
Reiterating the same, Col Saeed Obaid, director of the traffic and patrols department, UAQ Police, said these dark roads give drivers a hard time and put them in danger. "Poor visibility, particularly at curves, are some of the reasons blamed for the recently reported collisions and run-over traffic accidents at the Salma area."
There is an urgent need for speed humps to be installed on the internal roads of Salma area, he added. "As long as there are residential areas, there should be speed humps to force drivers to reduce their speed."
Yusuf Jassim Al Mansuri, director of engineering sector at the UAQ Municipality, said speed humps have been built on all intersections in the area. "The civic body studies all speed humps requests received from Emirati nationals and coordinates with the traffic police to identify the hot spots and build them as early as possible."
However, Yusuf Al Mazrouie, an Emirati national of Salma area, said almost all roads are dark. "This is so dangerous for everybody, especially for our children. Also, the growing number of stray animals is an additional concern.
"My sister recently had an accident while driving home after she was surprised by a stray animal," he added. "She sustained several injuries, and her car was seriously damaged."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com