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Just one mobile radar - which looks like a trash can - caught 35,000 speeding violations on internal roads of Dubai in February and March. The radar, which is placed in random locations, has sparked a debate on social media, with motorists complaining of getting speeding fines repeatedly.
Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police for Operations, said the radar only catches speeds in excess of 90kmh on roads with a speed limit of 60kmh. He said there is no excuse for driving at speeds of over 50 per cent of the stipulated speed limits.
In February, the radar was placed on Al Fursan Road, which has a speed limit of 60kmh, and detected 22,903 instances when motorists drove at over 90kmh; and 9,217 instances when they drove at 110kmh. The radar also detected 152 instances when motorists drove between 131km/h and 140km/h. Eleven motorists were caught speeding in excess of 140km/h - a 130 per cent increase over the speed limit.
Colonel Jamal Al Bannai, acting director of the traffic department, said the radar was previously placed on Dubai-Al Ain Road and Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.
Referring to the shape of the radar, Al Bannai said shapes and types of radars shouldn't matter. "The aim is that people should abide by the set speed limits.
"This radar not only catches speeding-related violations, but other offences like the use of mobile phone while driving and failure to fasten seat belts."
He said some motorists think they can cheat radars by slowing down as they reach locations where they are fixed. However, radars can monitor speeds of cars in a 150km distance, he said.
Meanwhile, many people took to social media to complain of being fined by the radar. One resident said he was fined Dh820.
"I have received two consecutive fines on Al Fursan Road. I have been unable to locate where or why I am being fined ... nor have I seen signs that allowed me to conclude where I could have possibly been caught speeding. I have driven on this road to work almost every day for the last two years and just started receiving fines," a resident, who went by the name of 'mike9414', wrote on an online forum.
On the same forum, another resident, who went by the name 'rustedmettle', said: "I got fined too and I don't think I exceeded the speed limit."
amira@khaleejtimes.com
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