Dubai: If you want to avoid an easy traffic fine, just don’t take pictures of the rain.
Police in Abu Dhabi have called on motorists to follow traffic rules ahead of the rainy weather, which already hit several areas in the north with hailstorms and heavy rains.
The winter season is expected to gradually make an appearance in the UAE, and weather forecasters expect sporadic rainfall to affect various parts of the country later this week. And as the weather becomes more unpredictable, police are also expecting more traffic violations to take place, especially with mobile phones.
Abu Dhabi Police have warned motorists that taking photographs of rain while driving is a traffic violation and will be penalised with a Dh800 fine and four black points.
According to Article 32 of the Federal Traffic Law, the use of a mobile phone is categorised under distracted driving.
Statistics by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai revealed that texting while driving increases your chance of being in a traffic accident by as much as 32 per cent.
The reaction time for drivers using a mobile phone was reduced by 50 per cent, according to the RTA, while around 10 per cent of your driving is done outside the lane.
Dubai Police also noted that about 50 per cent of youth accidents in Dubai occur because of using mobile phones and social media while driving.
Mobile phone safety
Before entering the vehicle, motorists should always remember to turn their mobile phone on ‘silent’ mode.
But if drivers have to make an urgent phone call, adhere to the UAE’s traffic law and follow these steps:
- Let your passenger take or make the call
- Make sure you call ‘hands-free’ (many cars come with this feature already)
- The best option however is to call back when you finished your trip, or when you take a rest to call
- Pedestrians should refrain from using their mobile phones as it might deviate their attention from the road.
Source: UAE Road Safety
