The number of road fatalities in Dubai last year fell for the first time in eight years, a result transport officials have attributed to the lowering of speed limits on several dangerous roads.

According to Roads and Transport Authority officials, during 2008 157 traffic deaths were reported, a drop of 12% compared to 2007.

On a stretch of Sheikh Zayed road, fatalities fell from 29 in 2007 to ten in 2008 after the speed limit was lowered from 120km/h to 100km/h.

The number of pedestrians killed by cars also dropped last year from 132 in 2007 to 106.

Nearly 1.23 million vehicles were caught speeding last year, an average of 3,300 vehicles daily, down from the 1.31 million vehicles caught in 2007.