UAE | Crime
Dramatic fall in traffic offences in UAE since implementation of new law
The number of traffic offences have dropped significantly since the new federal traffic law took effect in March earlier in 2008, said senior traffic officials.
- By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 18:05 June 10, 2008
Abu Dhabi: The number of traffic offences have dropped significantly since the new federal traffic law took effect in March earlier in 2008, said senior traffic officials.
"Statistics reveal that the number of traffic offences in the month of March has gone down to 31,715 as compared to 90,117 offences during the same period in 2007. Also, there is a significant reduction in number of offences in the month of April as compared to last year. From 90,680 offences in April 2007 the number of offences has decreased to 29,410 this year," said Colonel Hamad Adil Al Shamsi, the Director of the Department of Traffic and patrol section at the Abu Dhabi Police.
Crediting the decrease in offences to the implementation of the Federal Traffic Law, stipulating hefty penalties for serious traffic offences as well as black points against the licence of the driver, Al Shamsi said there is a marked difference in the situation before and after the law.
In 2007, the traffic death toll rose by an alarming 20 per cent while the number of traffic offences rose by 14 per cent as compared to 2006. The authorities are expecting a considerable decrease in the figures this year. 1,056 people were killed in traffic accidents in the UAE in 2007. The traffic death toll was 878 in 2006 and 829 in 2005.
"It also needs to be noted that the number of vehicles are increasing. The increase in Abu Dhabi is 12 per cent."
The number of serious accidents in Abu Dhabi in March increased from 217 in 2007 to 218 in 2008 and that in April increased from 223 in 2007 to 235 in 2008. In March, the number of injuries decreased from 381 in 2007 to 369 in 2008 and the death toll decreased from 33 to 26.
Al Shamsi said over 240 people in the capital were slapped with black points since the new law.
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