Dubai: Motorists who had not committed traffic violations in any of the emirates, won a brand new car, bedroom furniture, a stay in a five star hotel and many other expensive gifts from Dubai Police.
Some 700 winners of the ‘white points’ campaign launched by Dubai Police to reward motorists who do not commit any violations, were announced yesterday at a press conference in Dubai.
Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Chief of Dubai Police Traffic Department, said that the winners include 303 female and 397 male drivers. The winners will receive an SMS from Dubai Police. .
Female winners can visit Al Barsha Traffic Department on March 5 and the men can visit the traffic department in Deira on the same day from 7am to 2.30pm to receive their prizes.
Major General Al Zafein said the white points system was implemented by Dubai Police to encourage motorists to follow traffic rules and become safer drivers. The white points can be exchanged and can be used to cancel some traffic fines.
He said the white points electronic system collected the data of motorists and decided the winners.
He said the motorists who have valid driving licences issued from Dubai or have a car registered in Dubai in their names qualify for the white points system.
Winners are chosen from the motorists who do not have any traffic fines, including Salik and parking fines, for a year.
Maj Gen Al Zafein said each eligible person can receive a total of 12 white points a year, one for each month. One white point will be credited at the end of each month. A motorist loses his entitlement to the month’s point on being involved in any kind of accident or for committing a violation during that month.
“The white points are valid for a year. If one complies with the rules and regulations and earns white points for five consecutive years, one will be eligible to a big raffle draw for a vehicle,” he said.
“In order to be eligible for the system, the driver has to maintain a clean record throughout the year,” he said.
Maj Gen Al Zafein said the winners are from different nationalities. Emiratis topped the list with 220 winners, followed by 97 Indian winners, 56 Pakistanis, 44 British, 35 Filipinos, 27 Jordanians, 24 Iranians, 21 Egyptians, 20 Lebanese, 19 Syrians and 13 Yemeni. “We are often preoccupied with cracking down on bad drivers, so we tend to forget good drivers. This programme will change this,” he added.