Abu Dhabi: Sixty per cent road traffic deaths in Abu Dhabi were due to motorists or passengers not wearing seatbelts, the Abu Dhabi Police said on Sunday.

In last nine months, the Abu Dhabi traffic police have issued fines to 39,956 motorists who failed to wear their seatbelt while driving.

Brigadier Ahmed Al Shihhi, deputy director at the traffic directorate of the police, said, “Wearing seatbelts reduces the impact of injuries in case of accidents, and ignoring it poses bigger dangers.”

The traffic police continue to spread awareness among motorists about the importance of wearing seatbelts and how it can protect their lives in case of accidents, he said.

The UAE traffic law mandates all motorists and passengers to wear seatbelts.

“If the driver or passengers fail to buckle up while driving in the car, a fine of Dh400 will be levied on each of them and four black traffic points will be registered under the driving licence,” Al Shihhi said.

Lieutenant Mohsen Al Mansouri, deputy director of Al Ain traffic department, urged motorists to follow road traffic rules for their own safety and other road users.

The seatbelt is one of the most important safety tools that helps reduce injuries and increases a person’s survival chances in case of an accident, Lt. Al Mansouri said.