Abu Dhabi: As many as 20 cars were impounded after their drivers were caught speeding at more than 200 kilometres per hour in August alone, Abu Dhabi traffic police said yesterday.
One of the cars was caught speeding at 259 kilometres per hour.
In light of the alarming figures, the police have pledged to tighten controls on highway traffic, to force violators to answer to the law.
Police said in March they deployed more than 300 sophisticated radars, called Snipers, to slam the brakes on speeding motorists.
Uniformed and undercover traffic patrol teams had used the Sniper radars successfully to nab numerous speedsters, officials said.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ahmad Al Mazroui, head of highways traffic section at Abu Dhabi police traffic and patrols department, said a total of 20 cars were clocked being driven at high speeds last month alone.
One Ferrari driver was caught speeding at 250 kilometres per hour on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway, and another Bentley driver was caught going 213 kilometres per hour on the same road.
A driver speeding at 225 kilometres per hour in a Lexus and another doing 222 kilometres per hour in a Mercedes were also caught on the same highway.
A station wagon, speeding at 204 kilometres per hour and a Mercedes speeding at 210 kilometres per hour were caught in the Western Region.
"There will be intensive patrolling on the highways — Ghuweifat-Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi-Dubai, Abu Dhabi-Al Ain," Lt Col Al Mazroui warned.
He called on drivers not to mar the joy of celebrating the Eid holidays by driving recklessly, and endangering their own life and the lives of other drivers and passengers.
"Avoid racing and commit to the specified speed limits on the roads — within the city or otherwise," he said.
Those speeding recklessly risk having their vehicles confiscated for 30 days, 12 black points on their driver's licence and a fine of up to Dh2,000.
Colonel Engineer Hussain Ahmad Al Harthi, director of the traffic department said: "Drivers speeding over 200 kilometres per hour use the public highway as though it were the Formula 1 race track. The law will not be lenient with these reckless drivers".
"Tough action is required against their negative and crazy behaviours to prevent tragedies and death of innocent victims on our roads," he added.
Strict vigil: 1,061 drivers booked
In 2009, in Abu Dhabi, 1,061 drivers were booked for reckless driving. In addition, 185 motorists were charged with endangering others' lives, and 447 for racing.
Across the UAE more than 47,270 vehicles were impounded for a month for excessive speeding in 2009 while 25,862 vehicles were impounded in 2008, according to statistics from the interior ministry.
