Dubai: Two Emiratis on Sunday won two cars under the white points reward system for motorists who have not committed traffic violations for an entire year. Their names were drawn from a ist of 2,000 “good” drivers.
Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, and Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafeen, Dubai Police’s assistant commander-in-chief for operations, attended the ceremony with Khalaf Al Habtoor, head of Al Habtoor Group, to honour the sponsors of the white points system and to participate in the draw, the prize being two Hyundai cars.
One of the winners, 45-year-old Bilal Atiq, an employee of Roads and Transport Authority, told Gulf News: “I was shocked when I received a call from UAE’s top cop praising my good driving and rewarded me with a car, it’s a year of giving for sure.”
“I got my driver licence 16 years ago and initially I had some minor traffic offences but I don’t remember when was the last time I committed a traffic offence. I drive carefully and don’t exceed speed limits. It is the first time for me to win anything in my life,” he said.
The winner lauded the white point system: “Such initiatives will motivate the drivers in Dubai to follow traffic instructions as they can have the chance to win car or other rewards.”
The second winner, Sara Juma’a Othman, a 24-year-old employee of Dubai Airports, said she hadn’t been expecting the reward. “I only got my driving licence four years ago and never expected to win something for my good driving. I’m so happy now and this will make me more careful when I drive,” Sara told Gulf News.
She said that she has two other cars and will keep the third car as it is a good memory.
She advised other drivers to follow traffic rules. “You never know as one day you can be rewarded for your good driving,” she added.
The two winners were picked at a function at Al Habtoor Grand Hotel in Dubai Marina.
This year, 2,000 winners were chosen from a list of out of 26,740 motorists eligible for the white points system reward which was launched in 2012 by Dubai Police. Motorists who have valid driving licences issued from Dubai with vehicles registered in their names can qualify for the white points system. This year’s winners include 1,344 men and 656 women.
“It is a great initiative and will help encourage motorists to follow traffic rules and reduce the number of accidents and deaths. Its spreading positive energy among drivers,” Maj-Gen Al Merri said. Each eligible person receives a total of 24 white points a year, two for each month.
Winners are chosen from those who do not have any traffic fines, including Salik and parking fines.
Among the 2,000 winners, Emiratis topped the list with 500 winners, followed by 315 Indians, 150 British and 147 Egyptians.
