Don’t lose yourself with selfies, ministry warns motorists

Abu Dhabi: Motorists are being warned against taking selfies or using mobile phones to shoot pictures and videos while driving, the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate said on Thursday.

Officials said using social media software such as Snapchat, an image and video messaging app, while driving can deter motorists from paying full attention to the road. Doing so also impairs their reflexes, may cause them to inadvertently swerve off their designated lane, reduce speed significantly, jump a red light and ignore other important road signs, police said.

In fact, using the phone for any reason even if for a glance at the screen during an incoming call can pose a threat to drivers as they momentarily lose concentration.

The directorate warned that it has started intense road surveillance. That means those using their phones to record videos, take photos, send text messages or other purposes while driving could face a fine of Dh200 and four black points on their driving licences.

However, earlier this year, Col Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of Dubai Traffic Police, said that this punishment is not harsh enough and does not seem to deter drivers from committing the violation.

“The Federal Traffic Council had previously recommended that the penalty be increased to Dh1,000, 12 black points, and impounding of the vehicle for a period of 30 days,” Gulf News reported him saying earlier.

Last year, Dubai saw 49,643 cases of using mobile phones while driving which was 4,144 incidents more than the year before.

Meanwhile in 2014, Sharjah Police reported that taking selfies while driving has become one of the most popular offences being committed using mobile phones on the road.

Even driving institutes have become increasingly aware of the issue and are integrating the dangers of using phones while driving into their mandatory theory classes for upcoming drivers.

“The instructor constantly reminded us of what could happen if we got distracted for a split second and, to be honest, he scared a lot of us in class,” said S.H., an Egyptian university student in Sharjah.