Dubai: Traffic fines issued in Dubai fell sharply in the week following the introduction of the amended federal traffic law on July 1.
This was a more than one-third decline compared to the week before the law came into effect.
Dubai Police issued 94,964 traffic fines in the seven days leading to July 1 compared to 59,777 fines issued in the July 1-7 period, Dubai Police said on Monday. This means that 35,187 fewer fines were issued in the first week of the amended traffic law coming into force.
Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, assistant chief for operations affairs at Dubai Police, and director of the Federal Traffic Council, said the marked decline suggests motorists are wary of the harsher fines.
“It is a promising development and means that drivers are taking the law seriously as fines have increased,” Maj Gen Al Zafein said.
He added that he expects less casualties on the roads within one to two years as drivers will think twice before committing a traffic offence.
“I expect a drop in traffic accidents and casualties as well as fewer traffic offences as drivers become wary of committing even minor offences. More drivers who follow traffic instructions will mean safer roads,” he said.
Maj Gen Al Zafein said that the Federal Traffic Council’s main goal is to reduce the rate of fatalities in traffic accidents to three per 100,000 people from six per 100,000 currently.
“We made many suggestions and they were taken into consideration by the Ministry of Interior when approving the amended traffic law,” Maj Gen Al Zafein said.
Speeding was the main cause of motorists being fined in this period.
The most common traffic offences were lack of road discipline, parking incorrectly, blocking traffic, not leaving enough distance between vehicles and sudden swerving.
Signed by Lieutenant-General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, the amended law covers a range of violations, penalties for which include heavy fines, black points and impounding of vehicles.
Within two weeks of the amended traffic law coming into effect on July 1, Sharjah Police recorded 10,358 traffic offences.
Statistics released by Sharjah Police on Saturday showed that 10,358 fines were issued from July 1 to July 13. Most fines were issued to jaywalkers.
