Abu Dhabi: As many as twenty cars were impounded for speeding over 200 km/hr in the month of August alone, Abu Dhabi police traffic officials said. One of the cars was caught speeding at 259 km/h.
In view of the alarming figures, the police have pledged to tighten the controls of highways to bring violators to the book.
In March, this year, the police deployed over 300 sophisticated radars, called Snipers, in a bid to slam the brakes on speeding motorists.
Uniformed as well as undercover traffic patrol teams have used the Sniper radars successfully to nab several speedsters, officials said.
Last month alone, twenty cars were caught doing crazy speeds, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ahmad Al Mazroui, head of highways traffic section at Abu Dhabi police traffic and patrols department.
One driver speeding at 250 km/h in a Ferrari and another at 213 km/h in a Bentley were caught on the Abu Dhabi – Dubai highway. A driver speeding at 225 km/h in a Lexus and another doing 222 km/h in a Mercedes were also caught along the same highway.
A station wagon, speeding at 204 km/h and a Mercedes speeding at 210 km/h were caught in the Western Region in separate cases.
In all cases, traffic patrols immediately seized the vehicles and referred the drivers to the public prosecution for legal action.
"There will be intensive patrolling on the highways - Ghweifat-Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi-Dubai, Abu Dhabi-Al Ain," Lt. Col. Al Mazroui warned.
He called on drivers not to mar the joys of celebrating the Eid holidays by driving recklessly and endangering your own life and the lives of other road users. "Avoid racing and commit to the specified speed limits on the roads – within the city or otherwise."
Those speeding recklessly risk confiscation of their vehicles for 30 days, 12 black points on the driver’s licence and a fine of up to Dh2,000.
"Drivers speeding over 200 km/h use the public highway as though it were the Formula 1 race track. The law will not be lenient with these reckless drivers," said Colonel Engineer Hussain Ahmad Al Harthi, director of the traffic department.
"Tough action is required against their negative and crazy behaviours to prevent tragedies and death of innocent victims on our roads", he added.
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 over 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.
