Dubai: With more rain expected until Tuesday, police across the country were still cleaning up on Sunday following a flood of emergency calls and roadside accidents in recent days.
As many as 1,447 traffic accidents were reported in Dubai due to heavy precipitation wreaking havoc on and off from Thursday night through to Sunday, Dubai Police said.
Most fender-benders were minor in nature and attributed to the unstable weather.
Dubai Police Command and Control Unit logged up to 20,653 emergency calls during the same period.
Colonel Turki Abdul Rahman Bin Faris, Director of Command and Control Unit at Dubai Police, urged motorists to be cautious when driving in rainy conditions on the road.
Some roads across the UAE experienced flooding which led to episodes of hydroplaning for vehicles on the wet roads.
“Motorists should always keep a safe distance between cars and adjust their speed to the weather conditions … allow extra time for your journey and check your planned route. It’s also advisable to slow down as rain makes roads slippery,” Col Bin Faris said.
He said accidents happen during bad weather conditions due to low visibility.
“People must check the weather condition before jumping behind the wheel and they should follow safety instructions and regulations to avoid accidents.”
Meanwhile, Sharjah Police received 10,131 emergency calls during the same period.
Three deaths in Khor Fakkan were recorded while seven others were injured in Sharjah during the rain.
Major Mohammad Alai Al Naqbi, Head of Traffic and Patrol Department at the Sharjah Police, said accidents recorded by Sharjah Police occurred due to high speed, sudden deviation and non-compliance with driving instructions during the rainy weather.
He urged motorists to pay attention and concentrate on the road when driving during rainy weather.
As many as 316 traffic accidents were reported in Ajman until Sunday, Ajman Police said.
Colonel Khalid Mohammad Al Nuaimi, Director of Traffic and Patrol Department at Ajman Police, said that 314 of the accidents were minor, and two accidents resulted in three serious injuries, one run-over accident and another collision between two vehicles.
