Exceeded black points in Dubai? Get ready for community service

The Federal Traffic Council in Dubai to recommend ways to reduce violations.

The Federal Traffic Council is in the process of recommending compulsory community service for drivers who exceed the maximum allowed black points, said chief of Federal Traffic Council Major General Mohamed Saif Al Zafin.

Al Zafin pointed out that increased amounts of fines may not be a deterrent for some drivers. Therefore, there must be solutions outside the traditional methods that can help reduce traffic violations and accidents like asking drivers who have accumulated black points to undertake community service.

Al Zafin said that the council will also propose that drivers take benefit of traffic training course that gives them a chance to get their accumulated black points deducted. He pointed out that some drivers neglected the training and did not care to check their fines and black points. They are in for a shock when they find that their black points had accumulated, and that they would have to hand over their driving license which will be suspended. It poses a huge problem for those who have to use their cars every day.

He said that a four-session training course provided by the traffic institute can get drivers maximum deduction of eight points per year. The course costs Dh200, which includes two lectures. Taking each session will ensure deduction of two black points from the total. A driver can decide the number of sessions that he/she wants to attend and obtain certificate in all the emirates.

Major General Al Zafin pointed out that the Dubai Police website and app helps customers to enquire about traffic violations, indicating the black points and the duration of car confiscation, if any, mentioning the driver's license number, the vehicle plate number.

Major General Al Zafin said that according to law a driver is issued maximum 24 black points, after which the driver's license is suspended.

• Dubai