Dubai: Daredevil drivers who were filmed performing dangerous stunts on Shaikh Zayed Road have been arrested, the Dubai Police deputy chief said on Monday.
A video of the stunts was posted on video-sharing site Youtube and was heavily circulated on Facebook. Shortly after the release of the video, Dubai Police set up a team to find and arrest the errant drivers.
"Shaikh Zayed Road is a vital road in Dubai, and these cars were not only endangering the lives of others but blocking traffic as well," said Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Dubai Police Chief.
"This affects the UAE's image negatively because many people commented that this is an example of how people drive in Dubai, which is not true," Al Mazeina said.
The stunt drivers were reportedly fans of the football club Al Wasl and were celebrating the club's victory by performing stunts on Shaikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Beach Road and other roads.
"Two cars were seized, while the police are still on the look[out] for two more. One of the owners hid his car in another emirate, while another tried to change the look of his car to escape punishment, but the two of them along with two others have been arrested and referred to public prosecution," Al Mazeina said.
The drivers are all UAE nationals in their 20s.
"Skilled drivers should go to designated race tracks on and off-road. They should not use the city's streets to show their skills and put the lives of others at risk, even for a few seconds," Al Mazeinah said.
"An accident can happen in a fraction of a second, so this behaviour will not be tolerated even for a short time," he added. He urged residents to immediately report such incidents to police.
Under the law, endangering the lives, health, security or freedom of others is punishable by a jail sentence.
Commenting on why these drivers were not immediately apprehended by police patrols, Al Mazeina said that police were busy accompanying the victory march of Al Wasl fans, which covered two kilometres.
