Two crashes reported in today's Gulf News:
"The accident on the Al Wagan road near Za'abh which claimed 12 lives, including those of eight Emiratis and four Omanis, on Thursday night, was due to reckless driving...One of the vehicles, driven by a 20-year-old Emirati, veered off the lane in the curve and collided with an incoming vehicle."
"A father and a two-year-old child were killed in an accident early on Saturday when their car fell into a pedestrian underpass...the man was talking on his cell phone and while switching it off he lost control of the vehicle. The car, which was travelling at a high speed, swerved off the road, hit the pedestrian underpass barrier and plunged down the stairs."
Three near misses for me before 10 this morning. Way beyond the speed limit, a Toyota Landcruiser screaming down the inside filter lane which merged into the main road and forcing his way into the traffic without even slowing down.
A Mitsubishi Pajero in Knowledge Village almost running into the back of a taxi which was dropping a passenger, avoiding it by jerking the wheel to the left - right in front of me. The moron was texting.
And then going into Dubai Marina at the dangerous obstacle course that is the under-construction Interchange 5.5...you know how these things look - like this:
I came to this T-Junction. A Caucasian female in an open Jeep, talking on her mobile, came round the blind corner in the right of the picture...on my side of the road.
We really don't stand a chance.
The Gulf News stories are here and here.
10 comments:
I just dont get it....
a lot of fatal accidents since march 1st, and the roads just feel more dangerous, saw a number of people almost causing accidents yesterday, all were either speaking on the mobiles or texting, one of them started chasing me after i gestured to keep their phone down,
The best was when a bus on emirates road came to the middle lane and started tailgating/flashing me, and i was doing 120 kph.....
It seems as if these sad accidents are a normal part of every day life there?
LDU yes they are. We have one of the worst per capita road deaths & injury figures in the world.
These days ya just never know...one just needs to have excellent defensive driving skills.
And drink driving is still rampant in the UAE...they should station CID right at hotel lobbies to catch people on the spot! Why people still take the risk is beyond belief.
I don't know if there's a lack of police but unemployment is high in the UAE and they should recuruit more officers.
As you say, the laws are in place but enforcement is needed.
This morning a "lady in black" swerved past me on the right hard-shoulder, then swerved left and almost crashed into a taxi in the left lane, which then breaked and almost caused a truck to collide with it. She then slowed down for a moment (probably to re-wrap...) and then took off again, zig-zagging through heavy traffic.
Yesterday an ambulance was trying to get through on Emirates Road, so I attempted to make space for it to pass. I seemed to be the only person who understands the concept of "dying person somewhere... needs help... ambulance needs to drive fast." All other drivers around me seemed mighty concerned with me or even the ambulance taking "their space" in their lane.
Dubai Police announced recently that they would post more patrols during morning rush hour... where are they?
No Seabee: you stand every chance. Of being killed or injured by other road users. Driving in Dubai used to scare me to death. One of my former employers in the UK actually sent all of their staff who had company cars on a defensive driving course at Silverstone racetrack. It was the best course I ever did, and in Dubai I used a lot of what I was taught. But the problem is, obviously, that there are many drivers in Dubai who simply ignore the rules, compounded by many others who don't even know what the rules are!
Highway Code, proper tuition and all that: urgently needed!
I told people that my daily commute to and from Jebel Ali Port was the most dangerous thing I did every day. For a real thrill, try entering SZR from the short ramp at the construction zone of Dubai Marina.
Yes I know that one well and it terrifies me. About 50 metres to get from zero to at least 100kph to enter the traffic lane.
Agreed. Accidents are getting more and more terrible. They were a part of everyday life, now they're only getting worse. I mean, come on, just the accidents in Dubai are turning up death tolls and breaking records. What about the rest of the world? You're absolutely right. Without a miracle, we do not stand a chance.
Well, driving in Abu Dhabi seems to be improving. Traffic Police are patrolling and pulling people over. I've seen a lot of people being pulled over for driving in the emergency lane. Saw a policeman pull someone over at the traffic lights and fined them for not having the right % of tinting. So there is hope.....
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