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Zip, zap, zoom cars impounded

AJMAN — For those young motorists bitten by the 'zip, zap, zoom' bug, the Ajman Traffic police sent a clear message yesterday, when they confiscated more than 11 vehicles illegally modified to increase speed and produce loud noise.

According to Brigadier Ali Saeed Al Matroushi, Director of Traffic and Accident Section at the Traffic Department, the cars were modified by their owners to achieve high speeds and loud noise, but this was harmful both to the public and the environment.

"These modified cars and motorbikes violate UAE standards besides being a menace on the roads," he said, adding the nuisance value of such vehicles was so high that the noise levels produced by them could wake up an entire neighbourhood.

Stating that the noise generated by a single motorbike with modified mufflers could disturb the sleep of 200 people at night, Brig Al Matroushi said such vehicles can even lead to permanent hearing loss, besides affecting quality of life and work. "The noise generated by these machines can result even in tissue damage leading to serious health problems, and can even lead to miscarriage among pregnant women," he said.

Teenagers enjoy modifying mufflers of their vehicles to produce sounds often projected in movies, but they don't realise that their antics prevent people from walking on the streets, he said, adding that on a more serious note, it can distract the attention of other road users which can result in traffic accidents.

"Loud sounds can affect hearing, vision, reaction time and judgement of drivers and nearby people, thereby increasing the risk factor significantly for everyone in the vicinity," he said. These youngsters are only trying to ape "fast and furious" movies and serials telecast by satellite channels, he added.

• UAE