As many as 974 people have been issued tickets for jaywalking in three days from October 19 to 21 on Hamdan bin Mohammed and Hazza bin Zayed streets in Abu Dhabi, according to statistics released by the Traffic and patrols Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police.
The offenders were caught crossing the two streets from points other than those designated to pedestrians, ignoring the zebra crossings near the wrong points, which risk run-over by motor vehicles, said Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Rashid Al Shamesi, Head of Traffic Discipline Section at the Traffic and patrols Directorate in Abu Dhabi Police.
He underlined the continuous efforts of the law-enforcement personnel, which led to reducing deaths and serious injuries of accidents in which pedestrians are knocked down by motor vehicles, from 137 to 107, by 22per cent over the last nine months in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
He attributed the decrease in such kind of accidents to the extensive awareness programmes, strict traffic control on different roads to ensure safety of pedestrians, and curb crossing from other undesignated points.
Lt Colonel Shamesi urged motorists to reduce speed when approaching pedestrian crossings in industrial areas, trade centers, shopping malls, residential areas, and give them priority while crossing.
“The driver who does not give priority to pedestrians to cross the road will be liable to a fine of AED 500 and six black points,” he warned. Stopping the vehicle on the pedestrians crossing carries a fine of AED 500 and a jaywalker will be slapped a fine of Dh200,” he said.
He stressed that Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate’s aim is not to collect money, but to ensure public safety, and preserve public properties. The traffic seizures revealed that each and every traffic accident is often a traffic offence, he said. Nine overhead pedestrian bridges will be built in a number of locations in Abu Dhabi, he added