UAE | Traffic and Transport

Abu Dhabi campaign targets drivers using mobile phones

Police to crack down on the practice of using mobile phones while driving in the UAE

  • WAM
  • Published: 00:00 March 13, 2010
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Supplied picture
  • An Abu Dhabi police campaign will teach road users that the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving diminishes a driver's response by 50 per cent.

Abu Dhabi:  Abu Dhabi Police Traffic Control has stepped up patrols to nab those who use handheld mobile phones while behind the wheel, as more studies proved that the practice is a major cause of accidents resulting in death and severe injuries.

The Traffic Directorate in Abu Dhabi has rolled out an awareness campaign to teach road users that the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving diminishes the driver's response by 50 per cent.

Studies have also proved that the practice also reduces the drivers concentration enormously thus affecting speed control and the driver's ability to maintain a safe distance between his car and the next.

The awareness drive coincides with GCC Traffic Week, which is being observed all across the country starting tomorrow.

Congestion

Director of the Metropolitan Traffic Directorate at the Abu Dhabi Police Lieutenant-Colonel Ahmad Al Shehi said that the practice of using hand-held mobile phones while driving causes delays in traffic and results in traffic congestion.

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He also urged people to avoid typing or reading text messages while driving their vehicles.

Al Shehi also said that traffic patrols will issue violation tickets on highways and inside streets against drivers caught using cell phones or text messaging while driving.

He added that 18,787 such violations were reported in 2009.

Al Shehi pointed out that drivers make a lot of mistakes if the phone starts ringing while they are driving.

He said drivers were likely to be distracted and added that they could start searching for the device in their pockets or elsewhere — all of which are factors that may possibly lead to accidents.

Comments (8)

  1. Added 14:23 March 13, 2010

    They should start by first training the RTA bus and taxi drivers to abide by these rules and teaching them about the dangers of talkin or texting while driving then reach out to the rest of the public.

    Lil, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 13:00 March 13, 2010

    Let us hope that taxi drivers are not overlooked in this campaign. They are probably the most frequent offenders, whilst also being understandably distracted by instructions from their passengers.

    welland, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 12:52 March 13, 2010

    everyday you can see drivers using mobile phones while driving and changing lanes without indicators as their one hand is engaged. At the earliest you start cracking on the drivers you can stop most of the accidents I believe.

    Mahesh, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 12:33 March 13, 2010

    First the issue with the tinted widnows needs to be tackled. it would be very difficult to catch a driver talking on the mobile phone, if he/she is having dark tints!

    Aisha, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  5. Added 11:33 March 13, 2010

    I wish this was true. Like the tinted glass they promised tough punishment against violators but everything remained as before.

    Sterlino, Manama, Bahrain

  6. Added 11:14 March 13, 2010

    I am a regular traveller in the buses in the morning 8.15 from Capital hotel to Muraqabat. Almost everyday the drivers are using their mobile phone, and they are not paying attention for closing doors. They used to apply the brake in terrible manner. Anybody can do something against it.

    Pramodkumar, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  7. Added 10:57 March 13, 2010

    never to late i hope ALL will respect the rules and no exception will be there and also the man with tinted glasses please do respect the Traffic Police they are there to do there job.

    Max, Rosario, Argentina

  8. Added 10:49 March 13, 2010

    Alhamdulillah. I have personally been thinking of ways to send this message and along comes this new law. I pray that all the emirates adopt this new law because i believe that at least 90% of accidents can be avoided, inshaallah. As a pedestrian and a passenger, i have witnessed time and time again, people going at high speeds on the round abouts 'on their cell phones'!!!! This is crazy. Please make the penalties very stiff. People are more aware of their dirham losses than of human losses.

    Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

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