SPEEDING FINES VROOM AFTER REDUCED LIMITS

3,366 violations recorded in two days on two Dubai roads

dubai — An Arab motorist’s five consecutive speeding fines were among the over 3,300 issued on two roads in Dubai in two days after new speed limits kicked in. The police recorded 3,366 speeding violations on the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road after the speed limits on the Dubai stretch of the roads were reduced from 120kph to 110kph on October 15.

“We issued 3,366 fines on the two roads in two days — 1,763 fines on the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road and 1,603 on Emirates Road,” said Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, director of the general department of traffic of the Dubai Police.

The officer said many motorists are still unaware of the new speed limits. An Arab motorist, who lives in Abu Dhabi and commutes to Dubai daily, approached the police saying five consecutive radars on the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road went off after he entered Dubai. When the police told him about the new speed limits, he said he was not aware of it.

“He was educated and should have read the signboards on the roads while driving,” said Brig Al Mazrouei. The officer said the police had taken to all media and social media platforms to educate the public about the new speed limits.

The police have installed 60 speed-control devices and radars to catch drivers who do not abide by the speed limits on these roads. Additionally, eight traffic patrols have been deployed to ensure compliance to the limits.

The Roads and Transport Authority and the police lowered the speed limits on the two roads to curb traffic accidents and enhance the safety of road users. The two authorities made the decision “after conducting studies and analysing the cause of road fatalities in the past year”. New signboards have been placed on the two roads which indicate the new speed limits.