Pedestrian safety

Driving to the capital last week, a mega accident was narrowly avoided by some swift swerving as a man ran across the Sheikh Zayed road. This used to be very common about six or seven years ago, when there was a spate of fatalities on the highway oppposite the Trade Centre apartments (rumoured to be suicides to claim on life insurance for the families). This led to the wire netting in the central reservation.

Recently, and possibly due to the increasing number of construction sites in Dubai, there seem to be more and more labourers trying to cross the highway at great risk to themselves and to others. In recent months, two acquaintances have been jailed for killing men crossing the highway at night, even though neither driver was driving recklessly (and neither had been drinking).

What's the solution? More rigorous policing of pedestrians trying to cross the road? More foot bridges? Something needs to be done, for sure. In these two cases, two families have been bereaved, and the drivers are mentally scarred for life - needlessly.