Dubai: A motorist has been jailed for a month and fined Dh3,000 for blocking Dubai Tram after he jumped a red light and hit a tram cart in Al Sufouh, an official said on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old Arab national also had his driving licence suspended for three months after the Dubai Misdemeanours Court convicted him.
“The defendant jumped the red light at Dubai Tram (crossing) in a reckless manner and did not consider or pay attention to the safety of other road users. He rammed one of the tram’s carts that was moving in the right direction and caused an accident that blocked the traffic. He also risked the lives of other road users due to his reckless and inattentive driving … CCTV footage confirmed that he caused the accident instantly after he jumped the red light and hit the cart,” Prosecutor General Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution.
The accident that happened in September 2015 caused damage to the cart and the track, he said.
Drivers using their vehicles around Dubai Tram’s junctions, crossings and intersections in the areas of Al Sufouh, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence should drive attentively and cautiously in order to maintain the highest traffic safety standards, cautioned Bu Farousha.
In March, a 32-year-old Asian driver was fined Dh3,000 for jumping a red light at one of the intersections without causing an accident on Al Sufouh road.
“People driving around the Dubai Tram track should do so attentively and lawfully … otherwise they face stern and restrictive punishments according to Article 3 of the Penal Law of 1987 and its amendments in 2006 and the Executive Council Resolution No (1) of 2014 regulating the Dubai Tram. The penalty could be doubled in case the violation is repeated,” said Bu Farousha.
Traffic authorities take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all road users and stiff penalties await motorists who disobey laws and rules governing traffic on roads shared with Dubai Tram, warned Bu Farousha.
Earlier this week, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, issued Resolution No. (51) of 2016 amending the earlier resolution issued in 2014, in an attempt to enhance safety in the tram system.
Dubai Tram shares its 10.6km track with roadways, passing through at least 30 junctions, crossings and intersections starting from Dubai Police Academy in Al Sufouh to Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence.
Trams have priority of way and obstructing its movement, jumping the red light at the intersections that road users share with the tramway or causing an accident at tram crossings are major offences which carry big penalties.
The new resolution has announced an increase in the minimum fine for causing a fatal accident at a tram intersection from Dh10,000 to Dh15,000. The maximum penalty for the offence remains Dh30,000.
The driving licence could be suspended between a year and three years for drivers who jump the red light at a tram crossing and caused a fatal accident. Previously, the offender’s driving licence was suspended only up to one year.
According to the amended resolution, fines for causing a non-fatal accident at a tram crossing remained the same, which is between Dh5,000 and Dh15,000. However, the maximum duration of driving licence suspension for the offence has increased from six months to one year.
