UAE | Traffic and Transport
Dubai Police chase errant drivers and fine them on the spot
Police have started chasing errant motorists to issue them fines on the spot and to confiscate vehicles in case of serious offence.
- By Alia Al Theeb, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:55 October 21, 2008
Dubai: Police have started chasing errant motorists to issue them fines on the spot and to confiscate vehicles in case of serious offence.
The move is part of the campaign launched on Monday by the Dubai Police against dangerous traffic offences, which have led to fatal accidents on the stretch of Shaikh Zayed Road from the Trade Centre Roundabout to the Mall of the Emirates, a senior police official said.
Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of the Dubai Police Traffic Department, said the two-week campaign focuses on three dangerous offences which include reckless driving and what accompanies it from speeding, leaving enough distance between vehicles and zigzag driving.
He said there will be traffic patrols with officers whose main task will be to catch the offenders and issue fines by stopping the offender, asking for his driving licence and registration as he is sitting in the car. The police officer will then issue him or her a fine based on the offence.
He said if a motorist exceeds the road speed limit by 60 per cent, the vehicle will be confiscated instantly. He said motorists who drive slowly in the extreme left lane will also be fined.
"The patrols will also issue fines in absentia such as for not wearing seat belt, which is Dh400 and four black points and talking on the mobile without a handsfree device, the fine for which is Dh200," Brigadier Al Zafein said.
He said fines for dangerous offences, however, will be issued on the spot, as the three most dangerous offences are behind the increase in road accidents and are also a reason behind increasing road offences, especially radar offences.
"After completing the campaign on Shaikh Zayed Road, it will move to other highways and external roads and will continue until there is a positive reaction and commitment from the motorists," Brigadier Al Zafein said.
He said lately, he personally went through a situation when he was driving on Shaikh Zayed Road and a motorist came from behind and started following him closely and honking for him to get out the way. When he shifted to the next lane, the motorist looked at him aggressively and did the same with every car that came in his way.
"I called a traffic patrol and they chased the man who turned out to be an elderly person accompanying a woman and he said he was in a hurry. But we issued him a fine because he could have caused a serious accident," Brigadier Al Zafein said.
Statistics
Brigadier Al Zafein said traffic police issued 19,260 traffic fines in the past nine months for not leaving enough distance, 714 offences for dangerous driving and 17,625 offences for reckless driving.
He said according to the latest statistics, many Emirati men involved in road accidents are between 18 and 23 years old and the department is focusing on monitoring reckless motorists. He added that they are co-ordinating with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to close U-turns, especially on Al Wasl Road and others or install signals on them.
He said 211 people have died in road accidents in the past nine months.
Defiance: Evasive action
Speedsters have been resorting to a counter-solution to defy traffic radars as the police implement strict regulations along with aggressive speed limit monitoring on roads and highways across the emirates.
Auto electricians in Al Ain have recently reported the use of devices that give early radar warning beeps. Some motorists are also reportedly using radar jammers to defy speed limits.
Though not sold legally in the country, the devices that carry a price tag of $200 (Dh734) to $700 are being imported individually. The devices can easily be carried in laptop carry cases and small suitcases.
"Police radars cannot be legally jammed or fiddled with by anybody," said a police officer at Al Ain Traffic Police Department.
- Aftab Kazmi, Bureau chief
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