In first two months of 2015, nearly 5,000 red light traffic tickets issued in Dubai

DUBAI // Fines were issued to 4,800 motorists in the first two months of this year for driving through red traffic lights.

Maj Hussain Ahmed bin Ghulaitha, director of technology at Dubai Police’s traffic department, said that the objective of showing surveillance camera footage of drivers running red lights was to educate the public about the importance of adhering to traffic laws, particularly at traffic signal junctions and pedestrian crossings.

Radar cameras installed on streets and traffic junctions have helped save lives and reduce accidents, he said. Motorists and other road users have also shown a commitment to safety by abiding by traffic rules and regulations, he added.

Dubai Police, which took part in the Government of Dubai’s Achievements Exhibition, raised public awareness about the fatal consequences of breaking traffic laws, such as jumping a red light.

More than 150 people were killed in road incidents in Dubai last year and Dubai police recorded 2,255,343 traffic offences, of which 59 per cent were either running a red light or driving over the speed limit.

There were 1,312,594 offences of light vehicles speeding, 7,880 of heavy vehicles speeding and 12,030 incidents of motorists running red lights.

Most of the road incidents – 90.18 per cent – involved male drivers.