Police give motorists chance to reduce black points

Dubai: The Traffic Department of Dubai Police has offered motorists who violate the rules a chance once again to remove some of their black points.

They can do so by attending lectures on road safety regulations and paying Dh100 per black point to avoid having their licences confiscated.

Last month the department initiated a course of four lectures dealing with the dangers of reckless driving and road safety regulations to help motorists.

The programme is beneficial for drivers who have a long history of violations and those who are close to the maximum 24 black points that require their driving licences to be confiscated for three months.

Statistics for 2008 and 2009 so far show that 4,980 motorists have received more than 15 black points. More than 1,940 motorists have surpassed the limit of 24 and more than 1,740 have had their licences confiscated.

According to First Lieutenant Obaid Humaid Al Zari, Chief of Advanced Driver Training at the Traffic Department, most black points are incurred by truck drivers who fail to remain in their lanes.

So far this year, the person with the highest number of black points is a Pakistani truck driver who collected 149 points in less than a year, he said. Most of the black points are incurred by truck drivers "for their ignorance of road safety regulations and for their impatience," he said.

The violations range from jumping a red traffic light and reckless changing of lanes to parking in undesignated areas. But the most common reason for gaining black points is failure to maintain lane discipline.

The next sessions will begin tomorrow at the lecture hall at the Al Qusais Police Station and extend over four days.

The motorist can take advantage of this system just once a year and eliminate up to a maximum of eight black points from his record.

The four lectures cost Dh200 each and each one removes two black points.

Radar: Strict rules

According to Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, director of the Traffic Department of Dubai Police, the new hand-held radar 'gun' will be used on Dubai roads this month.

About 15 hand-held radars designed to detect speeding vehicles from a distance of 150 metres will be used from July 15. The move is aimed at reducing the number of speeding violations since speeding is among the main causes of accidents and fatalities, he said.

"This radar is expected to be everywhere next to a tree, traffic signal, side roads, major roads, on bridges. And it's the first radar not to flash as do the others," he said, adding that the department will continue its strict rules to curb violations and accidents.

Anyone who wants to register for this service can check the Dubai Police website: www.dubaipolice.gov.ae or contact the following numbers: 04-2172322, toll free numbers: 8007777, 8007000, or 0555500393.

Do you think this is a good scheme? Will it encourage motorists to drive safely?

This scheme is definitely very good for people to ensure they do not lose their driving licenses. But at the same time, the police should also keep a watch for these offenders as they should be given no pardon the next time they commit such offences. If not, these people would just find this scheme as a way to escape the law and continue their mistakes which result in the death of not only them but other road users also...
Karthik
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 05, 2009, 09:57

I do not think this will help as again its only money at the end of the day...people who break the rules, now have an escape route to remove black points...where is the liability? Please stop giving the idea to people that its ok to break the law, as long as you can pay yourself out of it...
Rahan Pasha
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 05, 2009, 09:21

OF COURSE ITS VERY GOOD AND AN EXAMPLE OF PUBLIC FRIENDLY POLICE, JUST WANT TO KNOW IF WITH ONLY TWO POINTS I ALSO HAVE TO ATTEND THE LECTURES?
Nadeem Ahmad Haji
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 05, 2009, 07:48

It definitely is a good scheme. Mistakes and human errors are very natural. Ignoring the law or breaking the law is punishable. Hence it is good to point out the reason for getting the black point and giving proper guidance on how to drive responsibly. I believe 90% of the road accidents in Dubai occur due to lack of safe distance
Sam John
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 05, 2009, 06:26

car dealer should play role in educating new driver with the car they drive, you will see new licenced driver drives v8 turbocharged car wich he can not control it during wet weather or cornering as his/her experince does not match the handling of such machine. the car becomes a weapon to other road user.
Khamis Salem
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 05, 2009, 03:32