New UAE traffic rules: Is 20km/h speed buffer still valid?

Dubai - As drivers in the emirate would be aware, Dubai has a 20km/hr buffer over speed limits for radar flashes.

The UAE implemented new traffic rules on Saturday, July 1, and also increased the fines and black points on some of the existing offences. Many of the fines relate to over-speeding and wearing seat belts.

And this has resulted in some confusion among residents in the Dubai.

All you want to know about new UAE traffic rules and fines

As drivers in the emirate would be aware, Dubai has a 20km/hr buffer over speed limits for radar flashes. For example, while the speed limit on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road is 120km/hr, the radar flash has been set at 141km/hr. On Sheikh Zayed Road, the speed limit is 100km/hr, and radar flash has been set at 121km/hr.

Now, with the new rules, many residents are worried if this buffer has been done away with. According to Thomas Edelmann, Founder & Managing Director, RoadSafetyUAE, this buffer is still in place.

"To our knowledge, the grace window has not been removed," Edelmann said.

Edelman also lauded the new traffic rules.

"From a road safety perspective, all of those changes are highly commendable. We want to single out the one rule change which we believe is the most important one to save lives and to prevent injuries on our roads: the introduction of the holistic seat belt law, meaning 'one person - one belt'! The reason why we want to single out this one rule change is the current lack of seat belt use in the UAE."

• Dubai