RAK drivers say faulty radar flashing cars going within speed limit

Ras Al Khaimah - The police started an investigation after some drivers reported the matter to the authorities.

A mobile radar on the Wakalat Road has allegedly left a number of drivers rattled after it 'acted bizarrely' while catching them for speeding violations even as they drove within the speed limits.

The drivers have reported about the 'crazy' mobile radar to the Ras Al Khaimah Police, who have started an investigation into the matter. The traffic department has promised to cancel the violations if they were proved wrong, according to a senior police officer.

The police received some complaints about a malfunctioning radar on the Wakalat Road opposite Adnoc petrol station in the direction of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed roundabout, said Col Ahmed Al Sahm Al Naqbi, director of the traffic and patrols department. "The drivers said that the radar flashed even as they drove at a speed of 81kmph though the speed limit is 121kmph."

The department had earlier received some similar complaints about violations, he said. "However, the violations proved to be right and the drivers were found to be inattentive to the speed limit."

The speed limit on all the internal roads and intersections of the emirate is 80kmph, and radars start flashing violations at a speed of 101kmph, he added.

"The only exception to this is the busy Corniche Al Qawasim where the speed limit is 50kmph, added to a 20kmph buffer speed."

Col Al Naqbi added that the department would review all the images taken by the radar and examine the reported radar for possible technical glitches.

"The recorded violations, if proved illegal, shall be cancelled," he said. "All the violations are reviewed and verified on a daily basis, and directly cancelled if proved wrong."

This is apart from the regular maintenance of fixed and mobile radars, he underlined.

"The speed limit on the reported road for the drivers heading from the 'Kentucky' Bridge to the RAK roundabout starts from 80kmph, with 20kmph as a buffer speed."

However, the speed limit from the same bridge to the Mohammed Bin Zayed roundabout is 100kmph, he said. "The radar starts flashing only at a speed of 121kmph."

Col Al Naqbi said all the road and speed signs are clearly displayed on the road on both directions.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah