74 drivers post awareness videos, get fines cancelled in RAK

The initiative was launched by the RAK Police to develop public awareness in an innovative way.- File photo

Ras Al Khaimah - The 74 waived fines were among the 150 fines slapped on RAK drivers over a period of 46 days.

Up to 74 drivers in Ras Al Khaimah have had their traffic fines revoked, in return for actively posting driving and road behaviour awareness videos on the RAK Traffic and Patrols department's WhatsApp number.
The 74 waived fines were among the 150 fines slapped on RAK drivers over a period of 46 days, from March 1 to April 15, according to a senior police officer. Drivers or passenger's failure to fasten seatbelts, improper overtaking, using the phone while driving, and parking at prohibited areas were on top of the 150 traffic violations registered.
Brigadier Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Humaidi, director general of the central operations department, RAK Police, said the fines were cancelled in line with the 'Smile & Decide' scheme launched in February this year.
The initiative was launched by the RAK Police to develop public awareness in an innovative way, curb traffic violations, and encourage drivers to observe rules and regulations.
"RAK drivers were urged to get at least 12 different traffic violations cancelled by simply shooting a video on public traffic awareness, and sharing the same on the RAK police social media channels, mainly WhatsApp," Brig Al Humaidi said. However, dangerous violations that pose a grave risk to road users' safety will not be exempted.
These videos cover violations such as 'unfit vehicle light', 'unclear number plate', 'driver and/or passenger's failure to buckle up', 'writing or posting anything on the vehicle without permission', and 'not giving priority to pedestrians at designated areas', Brig Al Humaidi noted.
"They also include 'parking at prohibited areas', 'using the telephone while driving', 'unfit turn signals', 'absence of backlight', 'jaywalking or pedestrians' failure to cross the road from designated areas', and 'failing to use turn signals when changing lane or direction'," the police official said.
"To avail this traffic fine cancellation, a driver needs to post a 1-minute awareness video to the traffic and patrols department on RAK Police's social media channels, within 10 days from being booked in presence."
However, a driver may have only one violation revoked per person, and that should be registered in the driver's presence, he noted.
"Only 74 drivers fined have had their violations cancelled, while the remaining 76 ones failed to chip in," he said. "But the move has boosted traffic awareness among drivers remarkably."
The drivers with minor traffic violations can either pay the due fines or film and WhatsApp the awareness video to 0565245809. "However, other members of the society not involved in traffic violations may also shoot and send such awareness videos to the same number," the official pointed out.
All the videos will be sorted and the best and most influential of these will be honoured by the RAK Police. "The RAK police are all set to launch more initiatives to meet the national index of reducing the road accident casualties against every 100,000 people."

What the awareness videos cover: