Beware of these new traffic rule amendments in Dubai

The newly amended Federal Traffic laws will be implemented from July 1, Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, Head of the Traffic Prosecution Council and Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police Operations, said.

He added that the Federal Traffic Prosecution is also studying the possibility of assigning community service to individuals committing dangerous violations.

The amendments are the result of thorough research and studies conducted over the last 4 years, with the main goal of reducing mortality down to 3 deaths every 100,000 people. The police authorities will begin awareness campaigns and invite the public to abide by the new laws, in order to save lives and avoid violations. In some cases, fines as high as Dh3,000 can be imposed and cars confiscated for 90 days. In cases like a vehicle without number plates, 24 black points can be slapped on the violator.

Maj Gen Al Zafeen added that the penalties for some violations has increased due to the high number committed, causing accidents. The United Federal Traffic Law will now include 114 articles, instead of the original 147, as some violations have been combined.

The Maj Gen said that the amended law is expected to reduce traffic deaths at the state level, from 6.1 deaths for each 100,000 people to 3 deaths, noting that the number of deaths from traffic accidents in the UAE last year reached a tragic 725.

NEW TRAFFIC LAWS

Goal: To reduce road fatalities to 3 per 100,000 population

. Mandatory child seats - for children age 4 and under

. Mandatory seatbelts - for all passengers, including rear seat ones

. Front seat passenger - Minimum height of 145cm and not under age 10

. Traffic Police to take no-tolerance approach to speeding + severe violations

FINES - NEW & AMENDED

. Worst violations: Dh3,000+ (vehicle confiscated for 90 days)

. Vehicle without number plates - Fine + 24 black points

. Seatbelt violation - Dh400 per passenger, including rear seat ones

. Speeding 60km over limit - Dh2,000 + car confisction for 30 days + 12 black points

. Quad bikes/RVs - Dh3,000 + confiscation of vehicle for 30 days if caught driving on highways or residential areas

Seatbelts and speeding fines

For children, it is being made mandatory to provide a child seat for those aged under 4, and all passengers - including those in rear seats - will now have to wear the seat belt, or a fine of Dh400 per passenger will be issued. The front seat passenger should also be at least 145cm tall and not younger than 10 years old.

The new seatbelt rule is the result of studying and reviewing experiments conducted in European countries, that have achieved very low road death rates. Sweden, for instance, has only 2 deaths per 100,000 people.

The Traffic Law is also tightening its hold on speedsters, with those exceeding the speed limit by 60km or over to now pay Dh2,000, the errant car to be confiscated for 30 days and the driver slapped with 12 black points, as speeding is considered the most dangerous violation on UAE roads.

In the case of quad bikes and other recreational vehicles, the fine will be Dh3,000 and confiscation of vehicle for 30 days if caught driving on the highways or in residential areas.

Maj Gen Al Zafeen stated that at the next meeting of the Federal Traffic Council, it will discuss introducing mandatory community service for dangerous offences such as reckless driving and speeding. The Council will also visit the most dangerous streets in the country that witness the most of deaths. As deterrents, bridges, road modifications, traffic signals may be added and speed limits further reduced in these areas.

The new traffic law amendments are compatible with the UAE Strategic Traffic Plan to ensure road safety in the country, he added.

amira@khaleejtimes.com