Shocking Traffic Videos Reveal Dh50,000 Fines in UAE: Drivers Beware
Recent traffic videos in the UAE are shedding light on the dangers of reckless driving, showcasing the need for stricter penalties. The amended traffic law in Dubai now imposes a hefty Dh50,000 fine for reckless driving that puts lives and properties at risk, while Abu Dhabi has already had this penalty in place for serious traffic offenses since 2020.
Dubai Police have wasted no time in implementing the new law, issuing the Dh50,000 fine in at least two instances this month alone. By sharing videos of horrific accidents, authorities aim to raise awareness about the severe consequences of reckless driving.
A recent poll by the Abu Dhabi Police revealed that nearly 93 percent of respondents agreed that these videos of actual accidents help them become safer drivers. The police have been publishing such videos captured by traffic surveillance cameras since 2018.
Let’s take a look at some of the shocking videos released so far this year, along with the fines applicable to the respective traffic offenses:
Video 1: Released in February, this video captures multiple accidents caused by drivers racing to catch the green light. One motorist loses control and crashes into another vehicle while trying to make a left turn at a traffic junction.
Penalty: Jumping a red light is punishable under federal traffic law with a Dh1,000 fine, 12 black points, and a 30-day vehicle confiscation. However, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, motorists will have to pay Dh50,000 to retrieve their vehicles.
Penalty (additional offense): Besides the red light violation, the police may also impose a fine for distracted driving or using a mobile phone while behind the wheel. This offense carries an Dh800 fine and four black points.
Video 2: In April, the Abu Dhabi Police released a video showing a vehicle overturning after its driver suddenly swerves over four lanes on a highway to make a last-minute exit.
Penalty: Sudden swerving incurs a penalty of Dh1,000 and four black points. In this case, the police can also charge the driver with wrong overtaking, which carries a Dh600 fine and six black points.
Video 3: On April 25, the police caught a driver tailgating another vehicle and illegally overtaking it from the road shoulder, endangering other motorists.
Penalty: Tailgating carries a fine of Dh400 and four black points, while overtaking from the road shoulder is punishable by a Dh1,000 fine and six black points.
Video 4: Released in July, this video shows a pickup truck abruptly stopping in the middle of the road after something flies off the vehicle. Subsequently, two cars stop behind it, but a fourth car fails to stop in time and crashes into the stopped vehicles.
Penalty: Stopping in the middle of the road incurs a fine of Dh1,000 and six black points.
Video 5: Recently released, the video captures a vehicle’s tire bursting, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle swerves onto the road shoulder, crosses over four lanes, and comes to a jerky stop.
Penalty: Driving with tires that are not road-worthy carries a penalty of Dh500, four black points, and a week-long vehicle seizure.
Video 6: A self-shot video of a biker performing stunts on a Dubai highway went viral last week. The Dubai Police promptly arrested the young man.
Penalty: The biker was fined Dh50,000 and received 23 black points on his driving license.
Video 7: This video from last week depicts a motorist tailgating and illegally overtaking another vehicle from the right on a Dubai highway. The motorist also brakes abruptly multiple times, posing a significant risk of a major accident.
Penalty: The Dubai Police fined the motorist Dh50,000 for reckless driving and imposed 23 black points on his license.
These videos serve as a stark reminder that reckless driving comes with severe consequences. With the UAE’s zero-tolerance policy and the implementation of hefty fines, motorists should think twice before endangering the lives of others on the road.
