UAE | Traffic and Transport

Road hazard: Mobile menace

Dubai Police report huge jump in motorists flouting ban on using cell phones while driving

  • By Nadeem Hanif, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 March 4, 2010
  • XPRESS

  • Image Credit: Xpress /Virendra Saklani
  • A man on the phone while driving

Dubai: Increasing numbers of drivers are putting themselves and others at risk by flouting the ban on using mobile phones while driving, new figures reveal.

The number of motorists caught making, receiving calls or even sending SMS messages while on the road more than doubled in the last two years.

According to Dubai Police, 5,110 motorists were caught and prosecuted in 2009 as against 2,552 in 2008. Guilty motorists were ordered to pay a fine of Dh200 and given four black points on their driving licences.

Cause of accidents

Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution, said: "Not paying attention while driving is mainly the reason behind most of the traffic accidents. Using a mobile phone comes under this category as it distracts the driver."

If a motorist causes an accident or injures or kills someone while talking on the phone when he or she is driving, the case will become criminal, he added.

But it's a warning that's often ignored by drivers.

Hassan Noor from Lebanon uses his car to commute to work. He said he is guilty of using his phone while driving: "Everybody does it here. I know I shouldn't do it, but it isn't taken that seriously by the police. It's probably more unacceptable in other nations, but here people aren't much bothered."

Ian Hunt from Britain, who has been in Dubai for two years, said he was surprised by the number of people "openly" using their phones while driving.

"In the UK, the law was changed a few years ago banning mobile phone handsets from being used while driving and initially people ignored it. Then they [the authorities] increased the fine and threatened people with points on their licence. It has had an impact, but only because the police enforced the regulations. Authorities here need to crack down on this seriously if they want people to stop using their phones while driving."

Shocking experience

Another Briton, Claire Jones, said drivers may follow rules if they are afraid of getting caught and are prosecuted for using hand-sets. "I was shocked when I saw so many people using phones while driving. I've also spotted people texting messages with one hand while steering the wheel with the other. It's so dangerous," she said, adding, "People do this as they think they can get away with it."

Legally speaking

The UAE traffic law of 2008, Article No 135, bans the use of phones while driving and penalises drivers with a fine of Dh200 and four black points. In 2008, the Ministry of Interior issued a list of traffic violations, which included using phones while driving.

Comments (6)

  1. Added 13:11 March 6, 2010

    Why have you blurred out the face of the motorist in your picture? Shame these people, don’t give them a safe harbour. I would encourage all your readers (when they are passengers) to take pictures of those drivers with a mobile phone in their hands -- make sure the licence number is visible -- and send them to the traffic department.

    Jeymer, Dubai, Afghanistan

  2. Added 08:21 March 5, 2010

    I think the authorities should be more vigilant and serious about this issue. Motorists here don’t maintain a safe distance between cars. People continue to tail-gate and flash at you from behind even when they know there is no room for the car in front to move to the right. Every day you can see many people using mobile phones while driving and changing lanes without using the indicator as one hand is always engaged on the phone.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 16:40 March 4, 2010

    An offence should not go unpunished. Fines and the number of black points [imposed on violators] have to be increased for using mobile phones while driving. I have seen many drivers taking pictures when they are driving on the fast track, especially on busy roads. What about them? A single slip of concentration is enough to cause havoc on the road. In spite of all the fines, no one seems bothered. I think hidden cameras should be placed to monitor drivers who talk over the phone while driving. But at the same time we need to think if there should be a place where we can stop and talk in case of an emergency. There might be urgent calls related to work and some of us might have angry and rude bosses who will never listen to excuses such as “I was driving”.

    Mathew Litty, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 12:45 March 4, 2010

    I won’t name any nationality, because that’s not fair, but I’ve heard some drivers actually saying they can afford to pay the fine for offences such as speeding. And since the fine for using mobile phone is more or less the same, they don’t actually care. Rather than a fine, it’s better to issue points. In the UK, if a policeman decides that the offence is grave enough, and the driver is without remorse and seems not to care, the he could recommend the driver as a ‘novice’ driver, forcing the motorist to undergo a driving test, while suspending his/her licence in the meantime. That, rather than a fine, would be more effective, I feel, because someone with money won’t feel the pinch of a fine. Remove that person’s ability to go where and when he/she wants to, and they will feel it.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  5. Added 12:10 March 4, 2010

    Yes, there are many people who use the mobile phone while driving. They don’t think about other people’s lives. On Jumeirah roads you can find people engaged on their phones while driving. I hope Dubai Police implement some action on this soon.

    Shaikh Hamdan Nawas, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  6. Added 10:39 March 4, 2010

    A very critical matter very correctly spotted. I don’t know why people are becoming more and more ignorant of the safety and comfort of others and becoming more self-centered in their everyday life. These days we hear more news of people abandoning/selling babies, murders, no respect for ladies, etc. The only way to stop people from using cell phones while driving is to punish them severely in order to deter others. I too have experienced such ignorance from people. You can never concentrate on two things at the same time. I beg the drivers to please avoid this act as it can kill someone. Why not park your car somewhere before doing it if it is so urgent? Even the use of hands-free doesn’t solve the issue. Please don’t play with life, there is no second chance.

    Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

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