Drink-driving a leading cause of accidents on Dubai roads

Drink driving was the third leading cause of road accidents in Dubai in the first nine months of this year according to police statistics, reported the UAE's National.

The offense carries a jail sentence of up to three years or a fine of just over $8,000.

So far this year seven people have been killed, and more than 100 injured in 431 alcohol related road accidents.

So far this year seven people have been killed, and more than 100 injured in 431 alcohol related road accidents.

Swedish expatriate Lisa Anderson, 28, told the National that the statistics did not surprise her.

"I frequently see people leaving bars and getting behind the wheel, and while UAE's zero tolerance policy is a good thing, I don't think that it's something that can be completely controlled," she said.

The biggest cause of traffic accidents in Dubai is drivers switching lanes without indicating or checking their mirrors.

Sudden swerving has caused 461 accidents and 24 fatalities so far this year.

Such careless driving is a "deadly traffic offence", Colonel Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, director of the Traffic Department at Dubai Police, was quoted as saying.

"Sudden swerving is still the main reason behind deaths on roads despite our campaigns to educate motorists to use indicators and not change lanes until it's safe," he said.

Tailgating caused 435 road accidents and 25 fatalities in the same period.

There have been a total of 122 deaths and 1,587 injured in 2,258 accidents so far this year according to police statistics.