UAE road deaths lowest in almost a decade as drivers hit with 8 million fines

Abu Dhabi topped the list for speeding offences, with five million fines issued last year

UAE police forces handed out 8.7 million fines for speeding offences last year. Reem Mohammed / The National

The UAE recorded 448 traffic deaths in 2019, and more than eight million speeding fines handed out to the country's motorists.

More than 8.7 million road users were fined last year for speeding, and about 55,000 were caught trying to jump red lights, a report by the Ministry of Interior said.

Abu Dhabi topped the list for speeding offences – five million fines issued there last year.

Dubai issued two million fines to drivers who failed to obey to speed limits.

Of the people who died in road traffic incidents, 282 people were involved in collisions and 105 people were run over.

In 61 fatalities, the vehicles had not been properly maintained.

Deaths dropped from 2018, when 468 fatalities were recorded, statistics showed.

But the number of serious road injuries in the Emirates increased by almost 13 per cent in the same period.

More than 800,000 speeding offences were recorded in Sharjah, about 340,000 in Ajman, 231,480 in Ras Al Khaimah and 143,619 in Umm Al Quwain.

The number of fines issued for driving above speed limits fell last year compared with 2018.

Speeding, using mobile phones while driving, failing to fasten seatbelts, jumping red lights ‎and tailgating were among the most common offences recorded last year.

The fall in numbers was attributed to upgraded traffic control measures including better road signs, improved road surfaces and speed restrictions.

The introduction of a points system for reckless driving and the threat of imprisonment for serious breaches were also thought to have reduced incidents.

In January, traffic cameras that can detect tailgating were activated across Abu Dhabi’s roads to improve safety.

For the past five years, the UAE was ranked first in the World Economic Forum’s global index of road quality.

UAE traffic violations at a glance