No excuse accepted for jumping red lights

No justification will be accepted for jumping a red traffic signal including such excuses as the driver is transferring a patient to a hospital, said a senior Traffic official at Dubai Police.

Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, director of the general department of traffic at Dubai Police, said: "We will not waive the fine of any person for jumping a red light on the pretence that he or she had to transfer a patient to the hospital, or in the case of a doctor, reporting to an urgent medical call," he said.

Ambulances are the proper method to transfer urgent medical cases to hospital and a failure to report the matter to them will result in adverse consequence, he added.

"Being under a tense situation, speeding, and jumping red lights add to the risk of fatal accidents. Doing it the proper manner is the solution."

Maj Gen Al Zafein referred to the case of a doctor working in a private hospital, who requested from the traffic department to waive his fine for jumping a red light.

Although he provided a letter from the hospital confirming he was called in for an emergency, Maj Gen Al Zafein said "this is absolutely not acceptable".

He says that jumping a red light results in severe accidents.

During an interview, he said a new scheme will be introduced soon in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and immigration, so that people who leave the country have to pay their fines before they do so.

"People who end their residency and who have accumulated traffic fines will have their names at every entry and exit point in the country. There are many people who have accumulated fines and in searching for them, we realised they have left the country," he said.

Fatalities

According to Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, director of the general department of traffic at Dubai Police, February of each year records one of the highest fatalities in Dubai with 30 recorded last month.

In 2007, they were 17 fatalities in February and increased to 39 in 2009 while in the following year in decreased to 31.