UAE | Traffic and Transport
Police warn that 2o-year-old cars will be confiscated
Police will strictly enforce new norms to do away with motor vehicles that are more than 20 years old and will confiscate vehicles found flouting the rules, officials said in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
- By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:50 November 16, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Police will strictly enforce new norms to do away with motor vehicles that are more than 20 years old and will confiscate vehicles found flouting the rules, officials said in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The announcement follows the decision of the authorities to begin phasing out old cars from December 1, with the aim of easing traffic congestion and reducing vehicular pollution.
"Vehicles found flouting the regulations will face confiscation," Colonel Hamad Adil Al Shamsi, director of the Traffic and Patrols Department at Abu Dhabi Police, said in a statement.
Noting that over 30 per cent of accidents were caused by old cars that lacked standard safety features available on newer models, Al Shamsi said the decision to ban old cars, besides improving safety standards, would also have a positive effect on the traffic situation in the city.
Onus on the owner
Old cars can be scrapped or shipped out of the country but the onus is on the owner of the vehicle to find a suitable solution, he said.
With the implementation of the decision, over 68,000 cars would be taken off the city's roads by the end of 2009, according to Colonel Gaith Al Za'abi, head of the traffic department at the Ministry of Interior.
As the phasing out continues, approximately 200,000 cars will be banned in 2010 with the authorities renewing registration of only cars less than 15 years old, Al Za'abi said.
Vehicles which are 20 years or older as of December 1, cannot have their registration renewed as per the new rules. However, if the registration of such a car expires before December 1, it will be renewed for one more year.
Taxis older than five years apart, import of light vehicles older than five years and heavy vehicles older than seven years will be banned. Classic and antique cars have been exempted from this rule.
Import of light vehicles older than five years and heavy vehicles older than seven years will also be banned.
Share this article
More from UAE Traffic and Transport
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Book: Demographic transition behind 'high unemployment'
- Thieves caught with Dh6m in gold bars
- ADWEA tenders for new power, desalination plants
- Mohammad approves federal demographic body
- Criminal wanted in 360 cases arrested in Dubai
- UAE visitor admits to possessing fake notes
- Men get bail in Dubai due to lack of translator
- Security trial in UAE adjourned until December
- Colombia seeks stronger ties with UAE
- Conference on combatting crime through sports begins
- Passer-by foils Dh2.5m robbery bid in Dubai
- Brothers deny vandalising plaintiff's car
- Extended break for Eid and National Day
- Free SMS offer for paid parking in Dubai
- UAE official urges corporate support for diabetes control initiatives
Community Reports
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
-
Community report: Doing their bit for poor children
A group of students takes concrete action to raise funds for Dubai Cares
