Dubai: As many as 15 people died in road accidents caused by swerving during the last six months in Dubai, police revealed on Wednesday.
There were 262 such accidents involving reckless lane changes and sudden turns, with 25 people being seriously hurt and 299 others suffering moderate to minor injuries, Dubai Police said.
The figures indicate that 6% of sudden swerving accidents lead to fatalities, while 9.5% of all such accidents result in serious injuries, officials added.
Leading cause of accidents
Sudden swerving is the third leading cause of serious traffic accidents, after distracted driving and speeding, police said. Abrupt vehicle turns can lead to collisions and serious traffic violations. This can happen when drivers suddenly change lanes or enter an intersection in front of other vehicles, often without following traffic signals, increasing the risk of accidents.
When combined with excessive speed, sudden swerving can lead to a loss of vehicle control, resulting in potentially disastrous consequences, warned police.
Why drivers swerve
Officials said the main reasons behind swerving are distraction caused by phone use, being preoccupied with other matters such as eating and conversing with passengers, or while adjusting the mirrors.
Another reason is fatigue, resulting from lack of sleep or driving the vehicle for long periods without rest, which reduces the driver’s concentration and slows their reaction time.
Dubai Police also identified psychological factors, including stress, anger, being late for appointments – all of which can influence a driver’s decisions and lead to reckless behaviour.
Factors also include tire blowouts or brake failure, which forces the driver to swerve suddenly. Finally, there are surprises such as another vehicle or an animal appearing unexpectedly in front of the driver.
Correct overtaking
The General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police urged drivers to prevent accidents caused by “wrong overtaking” and “sudden swerving”. Drivers should correctly overtake by ensuring the road is clear, only passing vehicles on their left, signalling when changing lanes, and using the appropriate lane when merging onto another road.
Dh1,000 fine
The Department stated that the penalty for sudden swerving is a fine of Dh1,000 and imposition of four black points to the driver’s license.
The Department urged motorists to stay focused while driving, stressing the need to avoid distractions like mobile phone use. Additionally, they highlighted the importance of following traffic signals when changing lanes.
