New statistics have revealed jaywalkers in Abu Dhabi are paying a hefty price for their attempts to dodge the traffic.
The figures, released yesterday by Abu Dhabi Police, show that 42,806 pedestrians were stopped and fined in 2012 for attempting to cross a road in an unauthorised spot.At Dhs200 per person, that means the pedestrians clocked up a whopping Dhs8.5 million bill for their careless capers, with police insisting there are plenty of safe places for walkers to cross.
“All 42,806 were issued with fines for violations that occurred near designated crossing areas such as footbridges, pedestrian walkways and subways,” said Colonel Hamad bin Mubarak Al Ameri, director of the traffic department at Abu Dhabi Police.
Police insist the threat of fines paid off however, as accidents involving pedestrians being run over were down 14 per cent on 2011. Seventy people were killed in such accidents in 2012, 81 died the year before.
However, pedestrians were not the only ones in the firing line. Al Ameri said the number of motorists fined for not giving way to people at crossings took a huge leap from 983 violations in 2011 to 3,588 during 2012.
That fugure resulted in the impatient drivers clocking up a further Dhs1,794,000 in fines for drivers.
Motorists who do not give priority to pedestrians on designated crossings are fined Dhs500 and get six black points.
“Crossing roads from non-designated areas and drivers’ not giving priority to pedestrians crossing roads are dangerous traffic offences as they increase the risks of run-over accidents,” said Al Ameri.
He urged motorists to reduce their speed at pedestrian crossings, in industrial areas, near shopping malls and residential areas and to give pedestrians the right of way.
The police official also told pedestrians to use specified crossing areas or footbridges to avoid accidents or being slapped with fines.
Police said Abu Dhabi Municipality will this year build 26 new footbridges including 20 on various roads in Abu Dhabi city, two in Al Ain and four in Abu Dhabi’s western region to provide more safe crossings and further reduce the number of people dying while attempting to cross roads in the emirate.
That figure resulted in the impatient drivers clocking up a further Dhs1,794,000 in fines.
Motorists who do not give priority to pedestrians on designated crossings are fined Dhs500 and get six black points.
“Crossing roads from non-designated areas and drivers’ not giving priority to pedestrians crossing roads are dangerous traffic offences as they increase the risks of run-over accidents,” said police official Al Ameri.
He urged motorists to reduce their speed at pedestrian crossings, in industrial areas, near shopping malls and residential areas and to give pedestrians the right of way.
He also told pedestrians to use specified crossings or footbridges to avoid accidents or being fined.
Source: http://www.7daysindubai.com
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