Dubai to reward model motorists

Motorists in Dubai will be rewarded for good driving habits as the police on Tuesday announced plans to begin a white-point system by early next year.

Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, Director of the General Department of Traffic, said motorists would be given incentives ranging from grand prizes like a car to exemption from traffic fines. They will also get gift vouchers every year. The police will send an SMS to the motorist to alert him/her about the selection for the prize.

He said the motorists who abide by the traffic laws for five years will enter a draw to win a car in addition to other incentives developed as part of the white point system.

The system was launched by Lt-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police, to encourage people to reduce traffic accidents.

The initiative confirms that the Dubai Police are not looking for increasing revenues from traffic fines, but they want to reduce road deaths and traffic accidents, said Maj-Gen Al Zafin. “The black points system, being implemented since 2008, has reduced road deaths by 32 per cent. The white points system will further reduce traffic accidents and deaths,” he said.

Conditions

The white point system would have certain conditions and procedures. For instance, the motorist’s driving licence must have been issued and the vehicle registered in Dubai. The motorist must not have committed any traffic law violations with his vehicle either in Dubai or other emirates during the year. If there is no traffic offence, one white point will be added to the motorist’s record every month. However, if the person commits a dangerous traffic violation and gets 24 black points against his/her name, he/she will not be given white points for one year.

Model drivers who abide by the traffic laws could replace any black points that he/she might get for a violation with the white points earned in the past or avoid car impoundment once in a year.

“The police will select the motorists and inform them in the beginning of each year about his/her white points. They need not contact the department. Rewards will be given to the best. If two persons have the same number of white points, the police will see their records of the past year in the police database and the person with fewer traffic offences in his/her records will be chosen,” Maj-Gen Al Zafin said.

“Those who commit dangerous traffic violations such as aggressive and reckless driving and exceed the speed limit by more than 60kph will not be given white points for one year. If they continue to do this, they will not be eligible for white points for years,” he added.

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