Dangerous Drivers Are Everywhere
Dangerous Drivers Are Everywhere
Boorish motorists are in for a rude awakening when the new federal traffic law kicks in, a senior police officer told XPRESS.
Until recently, brash drivers have got away with bad road behaviour, but this is set to change as a new black points system calls for harsher punishment, including a “strike two'' policy – two offences lead to losing one's driving licence.
The new federal law, now in the draft stage, seeks to send erring motorists back to driving school – if not in jail.
Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, the director of traffic department at Dubai police, said: “Since we have good roads in Dubai and traffic violations are on the rise, the problem lies with the reckless drivers – and the bad pedestrians – in the country.''
Dubai was the first emirate to follow the black points system, introduced 16 years ago.
Now, under the draft federal law, an enhanced – but stricter system – will be used throughout the UAE.
Brigadier Al Zafein said under Dubai's existing traffic system a driver who accumulates more than 12 points has his driving licence suspended or cancelled.
Last year, 144 motorists had their driving licences cancelled for a year for jumping red lights or driving on the hard shoulder while 552 had their licences suspended for getting 12 black points.
More than 1.4 million traffic violations were recorded last year, of which more than half – 884,183 were for speeding and 25,647 for jumping the red light.
Brigadier Al Zafein said the proposed federal traffic law would slap 24 black points automatically on specific offences, such as drunk driving, driving dangerously or racing on the road, and causing someone's death.
Under the proposed system, the black points system will be revised, doubling the points allowed before disqualification to 24.
Dubai unveiled a traffic system calling for harsher punishment on January 1, though this has yet to be implemented.
Dubai cracked down on speedsters after records showed one person was killed every 36 hours in accidents on its roads last year.
Under the Dubai traffic system, those caught driving at 60km above the legal speed limit will get 24 black points.
The Emirate of Dubai registered a total of 1,445,399 traffic violations in 2006:
- 25,647 cases of jumping a red light
- 6,600 unfastened seat belt
- 21,398 not leaving a safe distance between cars
- 39, 202 cases of reckless driving
- 884,183 speeding caught by radar
- 5,934 hit and runs
The New Rules
- Drivers who accumulate 24 black points will be blacklisted.
- First-time offenders, the driving licence will be suspended for six months and the vehicle
confiscated for one month. - Second-time offenders (same offence), the driving licence will be cancelled. Driver can't apply for driving test for one year. Car will be confiscated for three months.
- In case of jumping a red light, the vehicles will be confiscated for one week for the first time and one month for the second time.
- Third-time offenders will be referred to the traffic court.
- Any vehicle will be confiscated for one month if it is parked in a prohibited area.
- Moreover, the vehicle will also be confiscated for one month if it is coloured or tinted in a way that exceeds the allowed level.
- People using a temporary driving licence could lose it and not be able to apply for a new one before a year for traffic offences including driving dangerously or racing, and drunk driving.
- The owner can release his vehicle from the confiscated car section after paying Dh100 per day for the period the vehicle was impounded.
- The black points accumulated will be erased if they are less than 24 in a year.
- Four points could be erased if a driver attends a training course at Dubai police headquarters.
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