UAE | Traffic and Transport

Crackdown on speed merchants

Drivers of light and heavy vehicles exceeding speed limit by 10km per hour will be penalised

By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
Published: 00:00 November 11, 2009

Image Credit: Devadasan/Gulf News
Trucks on Emirates road in Dubai and other areas of the emirate will now be fined Dh500 if they exceed the speed limit by 10km per hour.

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Dubai: More than 9,000 light and heavy vehicles were fined within five days of enforcement of a new regulation on restricting certain vehicles from exceeding the speed limit by 10km per hour.

The new regulation which came into force at the beginning of this month, registered a staggering number of fines, said Major General Mohammad Said Al Zafein, Director of Dubai Police Traffic Department.

According to Al Zafein, in just the first three days, 894 fines were issued for minibuses and taxis, while 7,352 were issued for buses and trucks.

The regulation applies to trucks, buses and light vehicles such as pick-up trucks, minibuses and taxis as they face severe punishment if they exceed the speed limit by 10km per hour. Other motorists have been given a grace limit of 20km per hour. A fine of Dh500 is issued if they exceed this limit.

However, if the regulation proves to be a success in curbing the number of fatalities and accidents, as speeding is the major cause of accidents, the regulation will be applied to all kinds of vehicles.

Efforts

The Dubai Police traffic department is continuing its efforts to reduce road fatalities with new regulations coming into effect every now and then, despite the drop in the rate of accidents and fatalities. The new hand-held radar gun is used to fine minibuses, taxis and pick-ups, while the mobile radar is used for heavy trucks and buses. The 14-hand-held radars are monitored by traffic police officers who filter out fines in case the radar registers vehicles which do not fall within the parameters of the new regulation.

Comments (31)

Added 06:43 November 12, 2009

I somewhat agree with the comments of E.Harris & fully with the comments of Syed. Would like to suggest along with issuance of reasonable fine their vehicle should be impounded for 1-2 days. The errant drivers are paid employees and if their job and business suffers it will hurt. Difficult but Simple...

Amrut Maria Das, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 20:18 November 11, 2009

I am regular driver in most of the Roads in UAE as i work in marketing and travel around the country. I have noticed that most of the accidents are due to heavy vehicles including pick ups, minivans, loaded carriers, and change lanes without proper using indicators. But when the accident happens they will not be in the pricture because the cars behind them collide. This is the reason for most of the accidents. I hope that we still rember that bus accident on Shaikh Zayed Raod which happend a couple of years ago. The same reason. About Mini van there is no need to place a ban, just control their speed and make it the same as for heavy duty vehicles. I am sure that by this 60-70% of the Dubai road accident can be reduced. Hope that there will be some action from Duabi Police for this.

Hakeem, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:47 November 11, 2009

I am sick to death of my daily dose of being bullied, tail gated and flashed by mini buses, big buses and trucks, because I am not going fast enough for their liking. These people who drive like this should be put on a plane and sent home. I have the right to do the speed limit and sit in the slower lanes without being harassed.

E. Harris, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:30 November 11, 2009

Reducing the speed limit will not reduce the number of road accidents. When the speed limits are reduced for all vehicles people are forced to drive slow and this caused traffic jams and hence increase the number of accidents It is better to issue different speed limits to different categories of vehicles instead of all vehicles moving at a constant speed

Aniyanmon, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:04 November 11, 2009

Great initiative Dubai! one step at a time. Next should be a check on driving manners (i.e. driving while on the phone, eating while driving, not using signal lights when changing lanes, tailgaiting, flashing of headlights in front). There should be fines for these also. We should all have concern for the safety of all road users including pedestrians. I think there should also be proper pedestrian crossings (pedestrian overpasses/underpasses) along roads where large volume of cars pass everyday. Accidents are not only caused by drivers you know.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:22 November 11, 2009

I feel very disappointed when we always raise questions of speeding cars and trucks but what about people driving slow on roads or rather very much below the mentioned speed limits, it simply makes things worst for other drivers who are following the rules and definitely which tends to creat situations which are beyond anyones control. Will appreciate if authorities do keep this also into consideration when take decisions.

Syed, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:19 November 11, 2009

Enforced speed limits could probably help avoid an accident or reduce the outcome (intensity and fatality) of an accident. However, I would not agree that speed causes accidents. If that were to be true, then we should not have a single driver alive at the end of an F1 race. Accidents are caused by reckless, careless or irresponsible driving. When some drivers do not obey road discipline or act smart on the road, it could lead to road rage which is another major cause for accidents. I appreciate the effort taken by the authorities to restrict over-speeding. However, there are numerous drivers who drive long distances on a daily basis. Curbing the speed too much will only increase driver fatigue, as it will take longer to traverse the same distance, and as we all know, driver fatigue is another major cause for accidents. I feel that a lot more has to go into ensuring the discipline of drivers - lane changing and respect for drivers around you are just some of the aspects which need to be looked at. I think it is ridiculous that a car moving at 80kmph should find itself on the left-most lane of Sheikh Zayed road.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 15:28 November 11, 2009

Minibusses, busses carrying workers and trucks should have maximum speed restricted to 80Kms on Dubai's main arterial roads like Emirates road, Shaikh Zayed Road, Ittehad street, Al Khail road etc... these vehicle dirvers I think cause the maximum number of fatal road accidents.

SJ Huq, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 15:23 November 11, 2009

About Crackdown on speed merchants, It should turn out as the most effective initiative to fine the speeding drivers, it could be made even more effective if the authorities should consider impounding the vehicle for 10days for 2nd offence, 20days for 3rd offence in a year combined with the fine.

SJ Huq, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 15:22 November 11, 2009

It is for sure, road accidents can limit to some extend by taking stringent actions against serious violators. The recent statistics indicate the increasing accident rates, but authorities concerned can put a full stop to it by effectively monitoring the situation on a regular basis. In spite of several awareness campaigns and press reports, commuters continue to use mobile phones while driving, doesnt follow proper guidelines for changing tracks etc which lead to accidents. Heavy fines would be ideal solution to tackle this issue. More importantly, frequent awareness programmes to be organised with private participation wherein community is benefited in a better way.

Ramachandran Nair, Ruwi, Oman