DUBAI // Drivers in Dubai committed nearly half a million traffic offences in the first two months of the year, mostly breaking the speed limit.
“Speeding remains the leading cause of fatal traffic accidents,” said traffic police chief Col Saif Al Mazroui.
His officers recorded 494,760 offences in January and February, 308,690 of them speeding, despite campaigns to show drivers the dangers of driving too fast.
“I am surprised despite the continuous awareness campaigns and warnings about the dangers of speeding,” Col Al Mazroui said.
As part of Dubai Police’s Speed Kills campaign, motorists caught driving at more than 60kph above the limit can have their vehicles impounded on the spot.
“The campaigns that Dubai Police organises are not just limited to raising the awareness of the drivers but also apply to the patrols charged with monitoring the speed of vehicles and violations, especially those that affect public safety,” said Col Al Mazroui.
Anyone caught driving recklessly and putting themselves and others in danger will have their car impounded for 30 days, be fined Dh1,000 and have 12 black points added to their licence.
Police “will not hesitate to pursue those who drive recklessly”, said Col Al Mazroui, and he urged motorists to avoid “driving crazily”.
More than 80,000 of the traffic offences committed in January and February require the driver to make a court appearance.
After speeding, parking in prohibited areas was the most common offence, with 26,552 cases. Motorists who did not stay in their lanes committed 23,438 offences, followed by 22,033 cases of drivers disrupting the flow of traffic.
There were also 14,689 cases of people caught crossing busy roads at undesignated areas.
Police are “monitoring closely the areas in which workers live to sort out this matter and put a stop to accidents and fatalities that are a result of people being run over”, said Col Al Mazroui.
Forty-five people have been killed on the emirate’s roads in the first three months of this year in 41 accidents. Ten of the accidents involved people being run over.
There were 149 arrestes for drink-driving in January and February, 589 cases of people driving with an expired license and 4,275 offenders who had not renewed their car registration.
Police recorded 2,641 incidents of drivers running red lights, 10,425 cases of not leaving enough distance between two vehicles, 8,547 cases of people not wearing seat belts and 8,762 sudden swerve offences.
Of the 2,633 road accidents recorded last year, 641 crashes and 41 deaths were the result of drivers changing lanes without warning.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae