The number of seat belt offences in Sharjah fell by 66 per cent in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period in 2019, police said.
The drop reflected a decline in the amount of traffic on the roads because of movement restrictions imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Residents across the UAE stuck to stay-home orders to help stem the spread of contagion for more than two months.
Sharjah Police issued 5,605 fines in the period to motorists who failed to buckle up. The authorities handed out 16,397 fines to drivers during the first nine months of 2019.
A federal law passed in 2017 requires all passengers to wear a seat belt while travelling in a car.
Drivers who do not wear seat belts and fail to ask passengers to do the same face a Dh400 fine and four black points on their licence.
Between January and September, 1,071 passengers in Sharjah were fined for not fastening their seat belts compared to 4,974 in 2019.
“A significant decline of 78.5 per cent was also seen this year in the number of passengers found not buckling up,” said Capt Saud Al Shaibah, head of Awareness at Sharjah Police’s Traffic and Patrol Department.
“The department reached out to the public through an online campaign with messages aimed at raising their awareness about the importance of fastening their seat belts and how that helps to save lives.”
In January to June this year, Abu Dhabi police officers fined 22,162 drivers for failing to buckle up or not ensuring everyone in their car wore seat belts.
“Using seat belts reduces fatalities and severity of injuries in cases of traffic accidents,” Abu Dhabi Police said.
Maj Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, assistant chief of Dubai Police, said seat belts reduce the death risk to front-seat passengers by 50 per cent and between 25 and 75 per cent for those in the back.
“Severity of injuries also fell by 80 per cent for those involved in a traffic accident if they used seat belts,” he said.
Record breaker
- The most total field goals made in NBA history, as well as the most consecutive games scoring 10 or more points
- The only player in NBA history to reach 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists
- Four-time regular season MVP and four-time NBA Finals MVP
- Six-time NBA All-Defensive selection. Rookie of the Year in 2004
- The most All-NBA selections with 21 in a row, including a record 13 first team selections
- The most consecutive All-Star selections with 21
- The only player to play alongside his son; Bronny James was chosen by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft
Results:
5pm: Baynunah Conditions (UAE bred) Dh80,000 1,400m.
Winner: Al Tiryaq, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Abdullah Al Hammadi (trainer).
5.30pm: Al Zahra Handicap (rated 0-45) Dh 80,000 1,400m:
Winner: Fahadd, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi.
6pm: Al Ras Al Akhdar Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m.
Winner: Jaahiz, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.
6.30pm: Al Reem Island Handicap Dh90,000 1,600m.
Winner: AF Al Jahed, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.
7pm: Al Khubairah Handicap (TB) 100,000 2,200m.
Winner: Empoli, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap Dh80,000 2,200m.
Winner: Shivan OA, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
UAE%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Aryan%20Lakra%2C%20Ashwanth%20Valthapa%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20CP%20Rizwaan%2C%20Hazrat%20Billal%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%20and%20Zawar%20Farid.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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