Sharjah logs 10,000 traffic offences

More than 10,000 traffic offences have been recorded by Sharjah Police since amendments to the UAE laws came into effect on July 1.

The Traffic and Patrol Department said the number did not include speeding.

Maj Mohammed Al Naqbi, director of the department, said police had increased patrols and leaflets detailing the changes to the federal law were being distributed among motorists.

The amendments were introduced after 725 people died on the roads last year, up from 675 in 2015, and reversing a downward trend from the previous year.

The changes to the federal law include 19 new offences, including a Dh1,000 fine for rubbernecking, increased fines for speeding and tailgating, and a Dh400 fine for drivers whose passengers are not wearing seat belts.

Almost 5,000 drivers were caught breaking traffic laws in Dubai within the first three days of the amendments coming into effect.

Of them, 200 were fined for flouting the new seat belt law.

On Thursday in Abu Dhabi, four Emiratis and another man were sentenced to community service and ordered to pay fines after being convicted of reckless driving.

The men were found guilty in three separate cases that involved road offences in Al Dhafrah region.

The law was updated last year to include community service as a penalty for a number of offences and a substitute to imprisonment.

The first community service sentence was issued in Abu Dhabi against an Emirati “jobless youth” after he was convicted of driving his car to show off under what prosecutors classified as dangerous circumstances, considering the heavy rain.

He was ordered to clean the streets for three months.

Maj Al Naqbi called on road users to adhere to the traffic laws.

He said he hoped that stringent fines and heavier patrols would motivate drivers to abide by rules and contribute to the Ministry of Interior’s efforts to make the country’s roads safer.