Guilty of accident? Pay traffic fine

Car drivers at fault in traffic accidents will pay fines of Dh100 to Dh200 after police in Sharjah announced they will enforce the law, a senior officer at Sharjah Traffic Department said yesterday.

Fines for accidents were imposed this year on trucks in Sharjah, where drivers at fault have to pay fines of Dh100 to Dh500.

In Ajman, motorists who are at fault in an accident have to pay a Dh50 fine regardless of the traffic offence committed. Dubai, however, remains lenient towards people found responsible for minor accidents.

The policy of fining motorists at fault has existed for many years in the UAE, but traffic authorities have traditionally chosen not to enforce it. The stricter approach comes after indications that the number of accidents is increasing in Sharjah, traffic police said.

"Applying these measures will help us reduce accidents in the emirate. Traffic has become heavier in Sharjah over the past four years and accidents have multiplied accordingly. We need to make motorists aware of their responsibilities to help prevent accidents.

"Traffic is a collective responsibility, so we need to involve motorists in it more effectively. These steps will help reduce reckless driving and will, hopefully, produce more disciplined motorists," said the officer, who did not want to be named.

In Ajman, offenders must pay up immediately or their driver's licence will be confiscated. In Sharjah, the fines are settled at the department, where the motorist is told how much to pay.

A fine of Dh100 will be imposed for accidents caused by someone who failed to keep a safe distance from the car in front, or someone who failed to give way.

Motorists causing accidents as a result of speeding or turning on to a road before it is clear will have to pay a Dh200 fine.

Some motorists said they were concerned the fine is another sign of life becoming more expensive in Sharjah following rent hikes.

M. Gopal, an Indian driver who was fined Dh300 for three accidents, said: "I was fined Dh100 two weeks ago. According to police, I did not give way to cars at a roundabout as I entered it. Last week, I had two accidents with Dh100 fines...The company will deduct the fines from my salary."

Gopal said he was going to look for a job other than that as a driver.

Ebrahim Gulvas, a taxi driver who was paying a fine at the traffic department, said: "I was fined Dh100 for causing an accident. The police told me I did not keep enough distance from the car ahead of me. I have to pay for the repairs also."