DUBAI, 11 June 2007 — The number of traffic violations in Dubai has doubled this year in comparison with the same period last year. Around 108,505 violations were registered during the month of May compared to 63,151 in May last year. The police in Dubai are cracking down on reckless drivers in a bid to reduce road fatalities.
According to Dubai Traffic Police chief Brig. Muhammad Saif Al-Zafeen, more radars have been installed during the past year. “We now have on the roads 172 highly advanced cameras that monitor different kinds of violations, not just speeding. These cameras catch those who drive on the hard shoulder, run a red light and all reckless drivers,” he said.
Brig. Al-Zafeen added that the police have introduced special cameras to monitor heavy vehicles that exceed the speed limit established for them.
He pointed out that this was just the beginning and the police were planning to increase the number of cameras in Dubai to 865 by the end of this year. He noted that most violations — 80, 237 — were recorded in Bur Dubai and pointed out that all highways in Dubai fall under the jurisdiction of Bur Dubai.
Brig. Al-Zafeen revealed that the number of impounded vehicles was also on the increase. During May this year, 2,228 vehicles were impounded compared to 928 during May last year.
According to the traffic police chief, the new approach is part of a strategy which boils down to zero tolerance for violators of traffic rules. Statistics from the Road and Traffic Authority (RTA) in Dubai show that one person was killed every 27 hours on Dubai roads last year. The RTA statistics also revealed that some 80 percent of road deaths were related to speeding. Some 240 out of 312 people who died last year were involved in accidents directly or indirectly related to speed limits.
“Such figures are not acceptable and we are working hard to make sure that the number of senseless deaths decrease,” Brig. Al-Zafeen said. He stated that public could expect harsher penalties within the next few weeks for those who break traffic rules. He hoped that the implementation of the new rules would make reckless drivers think twice and consider the consequences of their violations.
