Sharjah: Sharjah Police recorded one-third fewer red light runners so far this year as compared to the same period in 2017, said police on Monday.
Sharjah Police recorded 3,676 violations of motorists jumping red lights during the first six months of this year, according to police statistics.
The violations showed a decrease of 32.4 per cent as compared with 5,437 violations recorded in the same six-month period the previous year.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Alai Al Naqbi, director of the Traffic and Patrol Department, said jumping the red light is one of the most serious traffic offences that often results in deaths or grave injuries.
When a vehicle moves forward against a red light, the motorist is placing himself in front of oncoming traffic from the other direction which can lead to extremely serious collisions leading to fatalities, police said.
Most of the violations recorded were a result of speeding and motorist attempting to cross junctions before the signal turned red.
Lieutenant Colonel Al Naqbi said despite police warnings about the dangers of jumping the red light, motorists still repeat the violations.
According to the amendment of the Federal Traffic Law, any motorist who jumps a red signal is fined Dh1,000, given 12 black points, and his vehicle is impounded for 30 days.
He called on motorists to improve their behaviour on the road, especially when it comes to driving at traffic signals.
Lieutenant Colonel All Naqbi attributed the decrease in violations to awareness campaigns launched by the police.
