Dubai: Police will implement a zero-tolerance policy to stop reckless driving and stem road fatalities, Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, warned on Monday, throwing his department's weight behind Gulf News' campaign "Make It Safe", launched on the same day.
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"In two weeks — following an extensive awareness campaign — those who violate the rules will face the stiff penalties of the law," Lt. Gen. Dahi told Gulf News.
The police chief said the safety campaign launched by Gulf News was "a good move to achieve the noble national goal of making the UAE roads safer", adding that Dubai Police will work with other law enforcement agencies to rank the UAE among the safest countries in the world in terms of traffic.
He said the campaign will be followed by strict implementation of the rules of safe driving by the police.
"I personally believe that any effort to enhance safe driving is useful in achieving our national goal of minimising fatalities on the roads, but also believe in penal actions as well in enforcing the law," he said.
"I will give the Gulf News campaign two weeks, after which I will order the police to start strict implementation of the traffic law.
"I believe that some motorists will not stop their dangerous bad habits unless they are caught and prosecuted by the police.
"The police will not show leniency towards any violation that has an impact on the personal safety of violators and the safety of other road users," he said.
The goal set by the Gulf News campaign to reduce the number of traffic deaths to equal those in the Scandinavian countries is quite achievable "if parties involved in road safety launched an orchestrated plan to promote safe driving," he said.
He believes that Dubai has been doing well in reducing the number of traffic fatalities and would work with police in the other emirates to reduce the death toll nationwide.
Last year, 826 people died on UAE roads. The police said the death toll was down from the 966 deaths in 2009. But traffic experts said that the UAE is still way above the death rates in countries such as the UK and Sweden and there is room to cut the death toll by 700 people annually.
National goal
"We have every right to be among the countries that have the lowest rate of road fatalities and Dubai Police will strive to achieve the goal," Lt. Gen. Dahi said.
He, however did not specify a time-frame for achieving what he described as the national goal.
"We will stop the illegal use of mobiles, texting while driving. The police are testing means to stop illegal behaviour," he said.
He referred to last month's tragic death of Diab Awana, 21, a UAE national football team member and Baniyas club player, in a car accident when he was driving to Abu Dhabi from Al Ain.
Awana hit a heavy truck. A friend of the player said that he was texting Awana while he was driving.
Lt Gen Dahi said road safety is not about texting or reading e-mail.
"It is about the illegal use of mobiles [phones] while driving. It also includes speeding and swerving from one lane to another without signalling in time. It's also about talking to other passengers and not paying enough attention to the road or eating and drinking while driving.
"All of the above are considered destruction of driver's attention and might lead to fatal accidents," he warned.
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