UAE | Traffic and Transport

Cars to be confiscated if drivers jump red lights

Motorists caught jumping red signals will have their vehicles confiscated for one week and will be fined Dh500 for the first offence, says a senior police official.

  • By Alia Al Theeb, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 September 6, 2006
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Gulf News ARchive
  • The new system which police upgraded on August 29 caught 761 motorists who jumped red signals.

Dubai: Motorists caught jumping red signals will have their vehicles confiscated for one week and will be fined Dh500 for the first offence, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

Brigadier Eisa Aman, Acting Director of the Dubai Police Traffic Department, said the department had upgraded cameras on interchanges and toughened penalties against motorists who jump red signals.

The move has been in effect since August 29. He said all vehicles will be confiscated, whether motorists are trapped by the camera or caught by a policeman.

"Dubai Police has stiffened procedures against motorists who jump red signals because the offence leads to dangerous accidents, serious injuries and even deaths," he said.

The new system which police upgraded on August 29 caught 761 motorists who jumped red signals. Thirty-three received on-the-spot fines. The offending motorists must surrender their vehicles to police.

Brig Aman said motorists who have not paid the fines or surrendered their vehicles will not be able to renew their registrations.

Penalties toughened for flouting traffic law

First offence: Vehicle to be confiscated for one week and motorist fined Dh500

Second offence: Vehicle confiscated for two weeks and motorist fined Dh500

Third offence: Vehicle confiscated for three weeks and motorist fined Dh500

Fourth offence: Other penalties specified by Dubai Police's General Headquarters and matter will be referred to court in case there was an accident caused by the offence.

Your comments


Well in reality, most serious accidents occurs due to speeding and no safe distance between cars. I think the authorities should put the same strict measures on these two cases.
Mohammad
Uaq,UAE

Why not put Timers on the signals of Dubai. If small cities in India can have it why not a city as big and advanced as Dubai?
Mohammed
Mumbai,India

Countdown Timers Needed! If they can install the speed limiting device why not the timers?
Usmaaanz
Dubai,Lahore

The steps taken by Dubai police are nothing less than the "BEST". We are quite sure that the rash drivers will take some lessons from this above fines.
Suhail
Dubai,UAE

Yes, I agree that a timer should be put on every major junction. This thing is already in practice in India. It helps people in control their speed.
Bad
Dubai,UAE

Giving the motorists more indicators to know when the next red light will be lit, would be more sensible. A countdown timer is a great idea or a flashing green light before the amber light would give the motorist more time to slow down.
Buhangin
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Aggressive driving while speeding at 220km/hr in 120km/hr speed limit area, with constant bumper to bumper use of light and horns is more dangerous and more common than jumping any red light. Don't you think that we should give equal emphasis to both red light jumping and aggressive driving?
Yousef
Dubai,UAE

I was just reading the above article...sounds great, but will it have an effect on the drivers concerned. I think they should enforce tougher measures other than just confiscating cars for a week and imposing a fine of 500Dhs. This will not make any sense for the rich because they are the ones who break rules as they think money can buy everything and anything and a loss of Dhs.500 will not lessen the weight of their pockets. This rule will only affect the poor class. Nice decision, but I feel stricter measures should be taken into consideration. Good Luck!!
Ann
Swindon,UK

I think the main reason for jumping the red signal is because the drivers do not slow down enough when approching the stop signals. If a decent driver tries to slow down in many cases the vehicle behind will flash the lights.
Prasanna
Dubai,UAE

I think it is a good step but still the problem is not solved as the number of accidents are the same still.
Umer
Dubai,UAE

I think setting timers on all traffic signals is important and if the driver is smart he should avoid two things. Firstly he should not get into the yellow box secondly it will decrease the number of red jumps.
Ayub
Dubai,UAE

Congratulations to the authorities. I suggest a two week confiscation. It is so easy to pay fines.
Jakes
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Congratulations to the authorities. I suggest a two week confiscation. It is so easy to pay your fine. What about introducing count down timers on green lights?
Jakes
Abu Dhabi,UAE

The idea is good. But first they have to introduce the convenient bus timing and enough buses to all routes. e.g. there is no bus available to the routes of schools and churches near Karama. Also the companies should provide bus transportation for employees which will reduce 50% of the cars on the roads. secondly a one family, one car rule also has to be introduced.
Menon
Dubai,UAE

The Dubai Police should also consider putting a speed limiter in all vehicles so that they can restrict vehicles from overspeeding, which is the reason for major accidents in the UAE.
Nanda
Dubai,UAE

It is a great step by the Dubai Police. Motorists will think twice before overspeeding.
Zillulla
Abu Dhabi,UAE

I think traffic lights need to flash three times on green before shifting to red. By this motorists would have the chance to reduce their speed and stop.
Maher
Dubai,UAE

They should fit timing devices to enable the drives to know well in advance when to stop the car accordingly.
Viswaa
Dubai,UAE

I totally agree with putting a timer on the lights just to know how long before the red light will flash, because it serve as warning.
Mar
Dubai,UAE

I don't know how the police treat jumping amber light. It should not be counted as red light jump.
Sohail
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Excellent job! New rule on penalty if found jumping red signal! No doubt, strong rules are needed to discipline the drivers. At the same time please don't forget to educate them in road safety by placing bill boards, electronic boards on the road side. We hardly see some catchy graphic or slogans with interesting messages advocating road safety.
Abdulkadar
Al Ain,UAE

As an Arab and having lived in a number of Arab countries, I'm proud to see traffic laws being taken so seriously by the authorities in Dubai. However, I also hope these laws will be applied equally to all traffic violators. Nobody should be above the law.
Radi
Dubai,UAE

I am Impressed! Great move by Dubai Police! It is high time people realise that by jumping signals they are putting their life and others' lives in danger.
Faiz
Dubai,UAE

I think the Dubai police should sort out the road congestion problems first rather than creating such laws. People have to wait so long because of the traffic jams and signals. If speed cameras and other laws are revenue generating systems, then people have the right to react this way. Rather than providing solutions and helping motorists, authorities are creating more congestion. Have more bridges, have less roundabouts and extended ancient tunnels, and give more say to people rather than introducing these laws which will are more problematic than providing a solution.
Anu
By e-mail,India

I think it's a good step, but what we need most in order to stop "careless drivers" from habitually violating traffic rules is to make policemen more visible at every intersection by putting police outposts.
Henry
Dubai,UAE

Wondeful! The Dubai Police is doing a great job and it has educated people for a long time regarding road safety. Now is the right time for enforcement.
Dutt
Dubai,UAE

It's doesn't make sense to confiscate the vehicle for one week just because it jumps the red light for the first time. The Dh500 fine is OK. If it is the third violation or more, then the confiscation is justified.
Joseph
Abu Dhabi,UAE

I believe Dubai roads are very safe if the drivers remain within the speed limit. I personally believe if all roads have a speed limit of 80km maximum a lot less accidents will occur.
M. Javid
Dubai,UAE

It is a welcome step from the Dubai Police. The errant drivers not only risk their own lives by jumping the red lights, but endanger also others' lives.
Ram
Dubai,UAE

I am sure if the Traffic Department puts up countdown timers alongside the signals, incidents of jumping the red light will come down considerably.
Hafeez
Abu Dhabi,UAE

I appreciate the action of the Dubai Police for implementing penalties for jumping the red signal. If violators are caught for the second or third time, the penalty amount must be increased to curtail further reckless driving.
A. K. Aboobacker
Dubai,UAE

I think the Dubai police should sort out the road congestion problems first rather than creating such laws. People have to wait so long because of the traffic jams and signals. If speed cameras and other laws are revenue generating systems, then people have the right to react this way. Rather than providing solutions and helping motorists, authorities are creating more congestion. Have more bridges, have less roundabouts and extended ancient tunnels, and give more say to people rather than introducing these laws which will are more problematic than providing a solution.
Mohammad
Dubai,UAE

On Salam Street in Abu Dhabi, around six months back, they placed a timer on the lights to warn motorists how long it was until the next red light. Definitely a good idea. So why did they take it down after a week or two?
Anonymous
By e-mail,UK

More from UAE Traffic and Transport

  1. No sweat! Book a taxi while on Metro

  2. Chance of fault on Metro: One per 4 million kms

  3. Motorists fined for driving below speed limit

  4. Special parking to help disabled tourists

All articles in Traffic & Transport

More from UAE

Gulf News
Popular in UAE

More from UAE

Crackdown

Passports seized in Dish TV crackdown

Dubai airport

Swords, knives, fake guns seized in Dubai

India-Pakistan

New visa rules thrill cross-border couples

Latest news
Community Reports

More from Community Reports

Weather

More from Weather

Video

In the lanes of Deira Spice Souq

Gallery

A pick of the best pictures taken by readers