WadiOnline News - Speed Limits Ignored During Evening Rush Hour

Speed Limits Ignored During Evening Rush Hour

Publish Date: 2009-09-04 11:00:10 Story Code: 19956

ABU DHABI / AJMAN �Nearly 30,000 traffic offences were reported during the first 10 days of Ramadan in Abu Dhabi, mostly due to speed limits being broken as people rush back to break their fast, police said.

In Ajman, police said drivers touched speeds of more than 60km over the limit in an attempt to get home quickly for iftar.

Col. Khamees Ishaq, Deputy Director of Patrols and Traffic Department, said the reported offences came as the police conduct widespread campaigns and patrols.

“The extensive traffic campaigns on internal roads and the highways of Abu Dhabi were designed to curb the violation when drivers speed during the second half of Ramadan, when the faithful begin to make arrangements for celebrating Eid Al Fitr,” said Ishaq.

Speeding comprised 68 per cent of offences at 19,672, which police said was a substantial increase compared with the rate of offences outside Ramadan time.

The police did not provide comparative figures.

In Ajman, 800 road accidents occurred since the first day of Ramadan until Wednesday, according to Colonel Ali Saeed Al Matrooshi, Director of the Licence Department at Ajman Police.

Col. Al Matrooshi said 760 accidents out the 800 accidents were considered minor accidents while 40 accidents were filed against unknown people.

“The reckless and over speeding attitude of motorists who rush during the afternoon hours to reach their home before iftar timing has led to 2,000 roads violations issued since the beginning of Ramadan,” Al Matrooshi said.

Al Matrooshi said most accidents occur with drivers speeding at more than 60km an hour over the speed limit.

He confirmed that the black points system has contributed in reducing the number of accidents reported daily as motorists fear that their driving licence would be withdrawn in case they attain full black points.

“Patrol personnel of Abu Dhabi Police distribute iftar meals to drivers at a time of breaking the fast,” Ishaq said.

Col. Ishaq advised motorists not to disrupt the traffic by parking behind other vehicles, especially near mosques. Policemen had issued tickets to many erring drivers. Such offences accounted for 330 during the first 10 days of Ramadan, he noted. 

afkarali@khaleejtimes.ae

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Source: Khaleej Times
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