Distracted drivers in Dubai caught using mobile phones while behind the wheel face having their vehicles seized for up to 30 days under a new traffic crackdown.
Dubai Police have introduced strict new legislation expanding the number of offences for which motorists can have vehicles impounded in an effort to bolster road safety.
Road users putting other drivers at risk by swerving suddenly, tailgating or displaying poor lane discipline are also being targeted by the new laws, which were published in the government's Official Gazette on Tuesday.
It is understood the decree, which applies only to the roads of Dubai, can be enforced with immediate effect. Dubai Police have been contacted for further comment.
Motorists found using mobile phones while driving could previously be fined Dh800 ($217) and receive four traffic points on their licence.
Six people were killed in road accidents in the first eight months of last year by drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel, according to Dubai Police figures shared in October 2023. Police recorded 35,527 distracting driving offences in this period, with 50 people injured as a result.
Road safety drive
The latest legislation covers 14 road traffic offences, which can be punished with impoundment for 14 or 30 days. The new rules are:
- Sudden swerving in a way cause danger on individuals or properties – vehicle impounded for 30 days
- Not leaving safe distance between vehicles – 30 days
- Distracted while driving due to using a phone or other devices – 30 days
- Entering a road without making sure its empty – 14 days
- Reversing in a way causing danger for individuals and properties – 14 days
- Failure to adhere to mandatory lane discipline – 14 days
- Stopping in the middle of the road without reason – 14 days
- Dangerous overtaking – 14 days
- Vehicle being unsafe to drive – 14 days
- Heavy vehicle failing to adhere to mandatory lane discipline – 14 days
- Stopping the vehicle on hard shoulder in non-emergency situations, or overtaking other vehicles using hard shoulder – 14 days
- Driving a vehicle without a number plate – 14 days
- Driving a vehicle in a way that obstructs traffic – 14 days
- Changing colour of the vehicle without permission – 14 days
Targeting rule-breakers
The directives are the latest step by Dubai Police to clamp down on reckless driving and reduce the number of injuries and deaths on the emirate's roads.
Police introduced large impoundment penalties for a number of offences in June last year. They included impoundment release charges of up to Dh100,000 for taking part in unauthorised road races and a Dh50,000 penalty for jumping red lights.
Impoundment time and fees for release are doubled if the motorist is caught reoffending within one year. Existing traffic fines were to be paid on top of the new fees, which have been introduced solely to release cars that have been impounded for traffic offences.
Road accidents on the rise
The number of road accidents in the UAE rose by 11 per cent last year, compared to 2022.
Statistics from the Ministry of Interior, released in May this year, showed there were 4,391 traffic accidents in 2023, up from 3,945 in 2022.
These accidents resulted in 352 deaths, a slight increase from 343 in 2022.
Figures show accidents in Abu Dhabi caused 133 deaths and 1,850 injuries, compared to 121 deaths and 2,607 injuries in Dubai.
In Sharjah, 34 people died in traffic accidents last year and 387 were injured.
Ras Al Khaimah roads recorded 30 road deaths and 326 injuries.
There were 16 road deaths in Umm Al Quwain and 63 injuries, 11 crash deaths in Ajman and 133 injuries, while Fujairah recorded seven road deaths and 202 injuries.
Squad
Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas)
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
England squad
Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3
Danilo (16'), Bernardo Silva (34'), Fernandinho (72')
Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Ulloa (20')
NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
More on Quran memorisation:
The five pillars of Islam
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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