Dubai: On October 6, Dubai Police shared a video on its official social media accounts of how smart cameras are able to detect phone user by motorists and other traffic violations.
However, this is not the first time radars have been upgraded with smart detection systems to catch various violations on UAE roads.
Here is a round-up of five violations that a radar could catch you committing:
1. Speeding
Driving at high speed is one of the most common traffic violations, which can also be deadly. Dubai alone recording 20 accidents between January and November 2020, which were caused due to motorists driving at a reckless speed. The accidents led to four deaths and 10 injuries, according to Dubai Police.
Speed radars are installed across the UAE, which record the speed at which vehicles are moving. Violations like fines and black points are levied depending on how fast a motorist is driving.
Exceeding the maximum speed limit by more than 80 km/hour
Fine: Dh3,000
Black Points: 23
Retention period: 60 days for light vehicles
Exceeding the maximum speed limit by more than 60 km/hour
Fine: Dh2,000
Black Points: 12
Retention period: 30 days for light vehicles
Exceeding the maximum speed limit by no more than 60 km/hour
Fine Dh1,500
Black Points: 6
Retention period: 15 days for light vehicles
Exceeding the maximum speed limit by no more than 50 km/hour
Fine: Dh1,000
Exceeding the maximum speed limit by no more than 40 km/hour
Fine: Dh700
Exceeding the maximum speed limit by no more than 30 km/hour
Fine: Dh600
Exceeding the maximum speed limit by no more than 20 km/hour
Fine: Dh300
2. Tailgating
Tailgating refers to the act of driving dangerously close to the vehicle in front of you at fast speed.
According to Abu Dhabi police, safe distance can be measured by the ‘two-second rule’. This means that the distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you should be enough for you to pass the same point two seconds later.
Failure to maintain a safe distance while driving can lead to a fine of Dh400, with four black points. In Abu Dhabi, your vehicle will also be impounded and a fine of Dh5,000 would need to be paid for it to be released.
3. Expired registration
Since April 2018, Abu Dhabi’s radar systems have been detecting vehicles with expired registrations, instantly scanning number plates to ensure the car’s registration is valid. In Abu Dhabi, violators pay a fine of Dh500, get four black points and have their vehicles impounded for seven days.
4. Not wearing seat belt
If a motorists is not wearing a seat belt, he or she can face a fine of Dh400, along with four black points being imposed on the driving licence. Smart radars in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been programmed to detect when a driver has not fastened the seat belt.
Fine: Dh400
Black points: 4
5. Using your phone/distracted driving
Any activity that takes your focus away from driving safely on the road can be constituted as distracted driving. UAE’s radars have been equipped to detect when a motorists is not paying attention to the road. Abu Dhabi’s radar system, for example, is called the vehicular attention and safety tracker, which detects mobile phone use or any other form of distracted driving along with the act of swerving suddenly.
Using mobile while driving
Fine: Dh800
Black Points: 4
Being distracted by anything while driving
Fine: Dh800
Black Points: 4
Sudden deviation of the vehicle
Fine: Dh1,000
Black Points: 4