Dubai Police Warns Against Running Red Lights: 41 Accidents

The Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, Brigadier Jumaa Salem Bin Suwaidan, warned of the dangers of running red traffic lights, affirming that this behaviour is among the most dangerous traffic violations threatening the lives of drivers, their passengers, and road users, due to the violent collisions it causes — which most often occur at intersections and lead to serious injuries and fatalities.

Brigadier Jumaa Bin Suwaidan explained that traffic statistics have recorded, since the beginning of the current year, 41 traffic accidents resulting from running red lights, which led to the death of 4 persons and the injury of 55 others with varying injuries — reflecting the scale of the risks arising from non-compliance with traffic signals and the instructions regulating traffic movement.

He pointed out that among the most prominent causes of committing this violation are haste in decision-making while driving and the desire to save time, distraction from the road by using the phone while driving, in addition to some drivers attempting to cross the intersection in the final moments before the light turns red, and misjudging distance and speed — affirming that a mere few seconds may be the cause of a tragic accident that changes the lives of innocent people forever.

He affirmed that traffic lights were established to regulate traffic movement, ensure the smooth flow of traffic, and protect the safety of road users, and that running them is not merely a legal violation but represents a recklessness toward the lives of others — especially at intersections that witness high traffic density and the crossing of vehicle movement from several directions at the same time.

Brigadier Jumaa Bin Suwaidan called on drivers to fully comply with traffic lights, gradually reduce speed when approaching intersections, leave a sufficient safety distance, maintain full concentration while driving, and not attempt to run the light when it turns yellow if a safe stop is possible — affirming that adherence to these behaviours contributes directly to protecting lives and reducing traffic accidents.

He added that Dubai Police continues its efforts to enhance traffic safety by intensifying awareness and monitoring campaigns and making use of smart technologies and traffic control systems to detect dangerous violations — calling on all drivers to act with responsibility and traffic awareness, and to make their safety and the safety of others a constant priority while driving.

Brigadier Jumaa Bin Suwaidan affirmed that reaching safer roads is a shared responsibility requiring everyone's cooperation, and that compliance with the red traffic light is not a choice but a legal duty and a civilised conduct that protects lives and enhances the security and safety of society.