Rush at Black Point elimination lectures

Dubai: More than 100 motorists who have committed traffic violations attended optional lectures held by the traffic department which offered attendants the chance to reduce black points.

The four-lecture course was intended to be held over two days with a maximum of eight black points eliminated to anyone attending the entire lecture series. Another option was to attend two lectures for the elimination of four black points.

However, since it was implemented for the first time and announced to the public at very short notice, many of those arriving late and attending just one or two lectures had the chance to eliminate eight black points.

"We received many attendants on the second day of lectures and many of them were late. So we combined two lectures in one. We are learning how to improve the service for next time which will be implemented in July and will be announced in the media at least a week or two in advance," said First Lieutenant Obaid Humaid Al Zari, Chief of Advanced Driver Training at the Traffic Department of Dubai Police.

Some of those attending were also under the impression that coming to the sessions was enough to get the black points removed. However, for each session the attendant needed to pay Dh200, or for each black point a violator could pay Dh100 on condition they attended the sessions.

The programme is beneficial for people with a long history of road violations and those who are close to hitting the maximum limit of 24 black points before having their driving licences confiscated for three months.

Egyptian national Mohammad Abdul Fatah, an accounts manager, was among the attendants at the first day of lectures on Monday as to him this was "a great chance" to reduce some of his 22 black points.

"I think it's a very good road safety system that ensures the safety and well-being of motorists and pedestrians. I am glad they gave us the opportunity to reduce some of the black points. I don't justify my speeding but it happened due to work commitments," he said.

According to First Lieutenant Al Zari, there is significant growing number of road violators incurring black points.

Based on the traffic department statistics for 2008 and 2009, more than 4,980 motorists received more than 15 black points. While more than 1,940 motorists had surpassed the allowed black points limit of 24 and more than 1,740 had their licenses confiscated.

The person with most black points is a Pakistani truck driver who has 149 points collected in less than a year.

Most of the black points are incurred by truck drivers "for their ignorance of road safety regulations and for their impatience," he said.

The violations rang from jumping a red traffic light, reckless changing of lanes, to parking in undesignated areas. But the most common reason for gaining black points was not abiding by lane discipline.

For Pakistani truck driver Khayal Asghar with 22 black points said most of his violations are incurred while parking in undesignated areas during duty.

He said most of his colleagues had lost their licenses for incurring many black points and finds this opportunity a chance to clean his record.

Do you think this will work? Do you think this will make motorists drive better?

What RTA should do is to continue with the black points system. When a driver reached its 24th point implement the 3 month cancellation for the license and subject the person to this kind of lectures before allowing them to drive again. These dangerous drivers might think that they can reduce their black points thru this.
Sandy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 14:44

i am sure it is a good system, i prefer RTA needs to link black point to insurance, like US, if more points insurance premium will increase..
DMK
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 13:41

I think first of all licenses should not be given to just anyone, coz many drivers here in UAE ignore rules and they dont care about other peoples life, they risk others life coz they dont have patience to drive. the badest driver i ever seen are Taxidrivers and truck drivers.
Midia
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 11:29

I really appreciate this move by RTA, i am sure lot of people will be immensely benefitted not only in terms of losing black points but also valuable tips on safe driving.Lets pledge to make UAE roads safe.
Raghavendra Kulkarni
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 11:09

to make the rules very strict,it is ok for safe driving,u fine the unsafe drivers for so many reasons,but to apply black point,and cancel their DL, I think it is not good.they get the DL by so many deficulties.So,pls give them fines but pls,if possible, don't cancel their DLs.
Manoj Kumar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 10:46

800 Dhs and attending a few lectures to wipe off 8 black points seems very lenient considering the severity of the offences the drivers must have committed to build up so many points on their licence, surely the fees should be higher and a written test of some sort added at the end to make sure that the lessons being taught are actually remembered and applied following the lectures? While it gives people a chance to redeem themselves it also opens up the possbility of drivers not being as careful on the road under the assumption they can just pay a small additional fine and attend a few lectures every time their points add up...
Mark
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 10:37

this is really going to work but awareness has to made to public so that everyone gets benefitted and does safe driving. i am too interested to join the session but dont know the time schedule.
Naresh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 10:33

yes, it is a revision of traffic rules and regulations,after the driving classes and lectures for driving license almost many drivers forgot all the precautions for safety and they commit hazards to others. these sessions will improve the driving and again remind the safety measures for personal and other's life.and it should be done monthly so that maximum persons can attened the sessions.
Shahzad Shaikh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 10:04

i think this is not going to do any improvement on road safety at all. this only gives the people the impression that they can "pay" their way out of the situation.
Raiche
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 09:31