DUBAI // Reducing road deaths involving pedestrians is the No 1 challenge of 2012, police say.
The number of road deaths in Dubai dropped by 12 per cent last year, from 152 to 134 - but pedestrian deaths increased from 43 to 46, accounting for more than a third of all road fatalities.
Police say jaywalking, especially on major roads, has been identified as the main cause of such accidents.
"Reducing the number of people killed while crossing the roads is our main challenge this year," said Maj Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zaffein, head of the Dubai Traffic department.
"Highways are not there to be crossed, and they should also not have any pedestrian underpasses or overpasses."
Anyone crossing a road with a speed limit of more than 80kph, or crossing in undesignated areas, is committing a traffic offence. The fine is Dh200.
Last year 37,484 jaywalkers were fined by police.
Jaywalking is a common offence among low-income workers in Dubai. When police catch labourers crossing illegally, they confiscate the offender's labour card until the fine is paid.
The emirate is dissected by three major roads that run parallel: Sheikh Zayed Road, Emirates Road and Al Khail Road. Police identified Emirates Road as the most problematic. The traffic department provided no solution to how pedestrians should get across these roads. Only Sheikh Zayed Road has overpasses, built for Metro users.
Although company transport takes most workers to and from worksites, an absence of pedestrian walkways and cancelled bus routes mean they are forced to navigate danger zones, dodging cars on the motorway to reach extra jobs near by, or visit friends. Hailing taxis is not an option on a Dh1,500 monthly wage.
In a 90-minute drive around Dubai last week, The National saw at least 30 jaywalkers.
They darted across roads, even as cars hurtled toward them. Others jumped over concrete road dividers and squeezed past gaps in road blocks.
Workers who jaywalk said they were aware of the danger but had no other choice in the absence of pedestrian walkways, and with bus routes cancelled.
"I am always full of fear because the car speed is naturally faster than my speed," said Tahir Khan, 52, a gardener who walks from Umm Suqeim Road to the Meadows area, criss-crossing two flyovers and busy thoroughfares.
"I judge the car's speed and then run. Before there was a direct bus route; that's stopped, but I can't stop working," he said.
Manish, a construction labourer, pulled a grey carry-on suitcase behind him as he walked with a friend on the flyover coming from Al Safa towards Al Meydan.
As soon as they spotted a break in traffic zipping past at more than 100kph, they darted across, yanking the bag along.
"Of course I get scared but how else do we travel?" said Manish, 25, who walked for an hour from his worksite to purchase the bag from a nearby market.
Hemant, a worker whose colleague died last year while crossing a road, said: "We know we are taking a chance, but we can't always just sit in the camps."
Jared Rodrigo, a Spanish media professional, said workers running across flyovers and portions of the motorway during peak traffic hours was a common occurrence.
"I worry they will slip and fall in front of my car. If an accident happens, I will be blamed. Do these men have no sense? Do they not value their lives?"
rtalwar@thenational.ae
wissa@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
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Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
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Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
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FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Fiorentina v Torino (8pm)
Hellas Verona v Roma (10.45pm)
Sunday
Parma v Napoli (2.30pm)
Genoa v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (8pm)
Juventus v Sampdoria (10.45pm)
Monday
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Playing September 30
Benevento v Inter Milan (8pm)
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Lazio v Atalanta (10.45pm)
The White Lotus: Season three
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Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
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Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
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- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
The biog
Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".
Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".
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Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
