Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police have registered a total of 7,592 road traffic violations since the inception of amended federal traffic rules in the country from July 1 until August 31, a top Abu Dhabi Police official said on Thursday.
More than 2,000 people were fined for flouting seatbelt rules in the past two months.
“After implementing the Federal traffic rules from July, the number of violations also reduced as compared to the corresponding months last year where number of traffic violations were registered as 11,991,” said Lieutenant Colonel Salah Al Humairi, Deputy Director of Abu Dhabi Traffic Police.
Of the 7,592 traffic violations reported, 2,394 were issued for not wearing seatbelts including by passengers in the rear seats, he said.
New traffic rules aim to reduce the number of violations, injuries and deaths, and to ensure complete safety of motorists and passengers, including rear seat occupants.
According to police, who quoted figures from the World Health Organisation, wearing seatbelts lowers the risk of death in case of accidents for front passengers by 40 to 50 per cent and those by up to 75 per cent for rear seat passengers.
As per the Ministerial Decision No. 178 for the year 2017 for Traffic Rules, wearing seatbelts is mandatory for all front and rear seat passengers. Failure to comply with the rule will draw a fine of Dh400 besides four black points.
Lt-Col Al Humairi said the new rules also mandate child safety seats in the rear of the car for children aged less than four.
