Sharjah: Police in Sharjah are cracking down on people who use their mobile phones while driving.
Latest figures show that in the last six months, Sharjah Police doled out 6,511 fines for distracted driving, the lion’s share of which was issued for using mobile phones while driving.
Police said despite repeated warnings, many motorists still insist on breaking the law and use mobile phones while driving.
There was a slight drop this year compared to the same period of last year but police did not release the 2016 fine numbers.
Offenders were given a Dh200 fine and four black points earlier. In the new traffic law, however, Article 23 stated that using mobile phone while driving invites a fine of Dh800 and four black points.
Officials pointed out many things can distract people when they are driving — children, pets, the radio — and as wireless technology has expanded, driving distractions have increased to include a range of hand-held devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants and MP3 players.
Major Khalid Al Kay, deputy director of the Traffic and Patrol Department at Sharjah Police, told Gulf News on Tuesday that the traffic department has launched a campaign in the emirate to educate motorists about the new traffic law and its amendments.
A total of 100,000 booklets outlining the new traffic law in Arabic and English will be distributed among motorists on the roads and in malls and other places.
Maj Al Kay urged all motorists to familiarise themselves with the changes in the law to learn the importance of these tips and stick to traffic rules.
Sharjah Police, meanwhile, have posted the articles of the new law and the safety measures and procedures to be followed by motorists on their social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook. YouTube and Instagram).
