DUBAI // Motorists who go the longest period without a traffic violation will be given priority in a new police system that rewards good driving with prizes, including a car.
Under the white points system, drivers of vehicles registered in Dubai are awarded a point for each month without traffic offences or Salik toll-road fines.
Drivers who go 12 months without any violations will be eligible for prizes worth a minimum of Dh500 each. Dubai Police say there will be between 250 to 500 prizes.
The head of Dubai Police traffic department, Maj Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zaffin, said today that if there were more good drivers than prizes then those with the longest standing clean sheets would be given priority.
“We have a specific budget for the prizes so there might need to be a selection process based on the number of people who will be eligible for a prize as part of the scheme,” Maj Gen Al Zaffin said.
There are about one million driving licences registered in Dubai. However, drivers who do not own a registered vehicle will be excluded from the scheme. Police will also check that people older than 60 who own a registered vehicle are still active drivers.
The scheme is being backdated to the start of this year, and the first winners will be told by text message at the beginning of February.
Drivers who keep a clean sheet for five consecutive years will be entered into a prize draw for a car.
The initiative aims to encourage well-behaved motorists and motivate less well-behaved ones to change their behaviour.
“We can never be sure of the exact effect this initiative will have on road safety, but we are hoping it will reduce accidents by 10 to 20 per cent in the long run,” said Maj Gen Al Zaffin.
Besides prizes, drivers will be able to use their white points to cancel black points accrued either before or after the clean sheet.
They will also be able to use them to cancel fines accumulated after their clean sheet, as long as the fine does not apply to an offence that also resulted in a black point.
Drivers who accumulate 12 white points but subsequently have their car confiscated will also be able to trade their points for the return of the vehicle – provided it has been impounded for no longer than one month.
Drivers who accumulate 12 to 24 black points in one severe traffic violation will not be awarded any white points for a year.
wissa@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
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Company profile
Name: GiftBag.ae
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2011
Number of employees: 4
Sector: E-commerce
Funding: Self-funded to date
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Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
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Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
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The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
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Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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- Torque: 760nm
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- Price: Not announced yet
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Match info:
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
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