Dubai Police have revealed concerning statistics on road safety, disclosing that jaywalking resulted in 8 fatalities and 339 injuries in 2023. Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, director of the General Traffic Department, stated that there were 320 run-over incidents last year, categorizing the injuries as 33 serious, 155 moderate, and 151 minor.
In a crackdown on this perilous behavior, police apprehended 43,817 pedestrians for crossing streets improperly, imposing fines of Dh400 per violation. A peak in jaywalking was noted in September, with 4,591 incidents, followed closely by the months of May, October, and August.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Dubai Police shared a video depicting the risks jaywalkers take, including one individual dodging cars while carrying boxes and another stopping mid-road, engaging in a risky game with oncoming traffic.
Thomas Edelmann, a road safety expert from RoadSafetyUAE, emphasized in a Khaleej Times report the need for a shift in attitude towards pedestrian safety. He pointed out that 95% of run-over accidents are attributed to jaywalking. Edelmann also urged motorists to respect pedestrian crossings and criticized the behavior of delivery riders who often neglect pedestrian safety.
RoadSafetyUAE provided a series of tips for pedestrian safety, advising the use of pedestrian bridges, underpasses, and designated crossings. They emphasized the importance of vigilance at zebra crossings, eye contact with drivers, caution around reversing cars, and general awareness in traffic areas.