Dubai: Motorists committed more than 2.3 million traffic offences in Dubai in 2013, an enormous average of more than 6,600 violations a day, with speeding being the most common offence.
On average, every vehicle was involved in at least four offences in the past 11 months.
Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, chief of Dubai Police traffic department, said nearly 1.5 million of traffic fines were issued in the absence of drivers.
Police statistics also showed that more than 40,000 motorists used their mobile phones while driving. “Nearly 24,831 of these tickets were issued in the absence of drivers,” Major General Al Zafein said.
“The law does not require the police to record such an offence in the presence of the driver. The only difference is that the offence in the drivers’ presence involves four black points and Dh200 while that issuing such fines in absentia is limited to paying fine.”
More police patrols and speed cameras ensured that the police kept pace with traffic offenders.
Speeding offences stood at 1.19 million, which is 67 per cent of the total violations, while 36 fines were issued for driving below the speed limit. Interestingly, 174 fines were issued for driving without using eye glasses or eye lenses. 153 fines were issued for letting children below the age of 10 sit in the front passenger seat. 7,203 fines were issued for parking a vehicle in parking spaces for the handicapped.
13,095 fines were issued for jumping the red signal, 362 fines were issued for running away from police, 91,313 fines were issued for causing a traffic jam and 32,660 fines were issued for not keeping a safe distance between vehicles.
Other offences involved blocking traffic, wrong parking, failure to use the seat belt, driving with an expired driving license or vehicle registration.
A total of 21,363 fines were issued to motorists driving in Dubai with driving licences issued in another country without permission.
