340 drivers with maximum black points lose licences

Dubai: About 340 driving licences have been cancelled in the past six months for reaching the limit of 24 traffic points as a result of traffic offences.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police announced the launch of a joint traffic points' campaign, worth around Dh9 million, to spread awareness on the traffic points system, previously known as black points system, which was partially amended in March.

The campaign which comes under the theme 'Traffic Points System for the Safety of All', consists of two phases.

The first phase, which runs for two weeks, will involve awareness campaign on the Traffic Points System to inform and remind the public of the system.

The second phase, which lasts for six months, will educate the public on the traffic attitudes that trigger application of the traffic points system, with particular attention to common and key traffic offences, and associated penalties.

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Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said in a press conference held jointly with Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Acting Chief of Dubai Police, that the goal of the campaign is to reduce road accidents and fatality rates and influencing the attitudes of road users.

"Through the campaign, RTA and police are targeting to raise the awareness of around 95 per cent of motorists in Dubai. There will be advertisements in Arabic, English, Urdu and Tagalog newspapers, multi-lingual radio channels, TV stations, putting advertisements on outdoor locations, shopping centres, petrol stations and licensing centres," he said.

Major General Al Mazeina said a motorist, who reaches the points limit for the first time, will have his driving license impounded and suspended for three months.

In the second instance, the driving license will be impounded and suspended for six months. The third time, the driving license will be impounded for one year and will not be reinstated unless the holder completes a training session in one of the accredited driving institutes.

Eight traffic points will be waived from the total traffic points record of a driver who passes the training course before reaching the 24 cumulative points. The driver can avail of the privilege once a year.

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