Over 10K drivers fined for failing to buckle-up in Abu Dhabi

abu dhabi — More than 10,000 drivers in Abu Dhabi were fined for failing to buckle-up and failing to ensure their passengers are wearing seatbelts in the past six months.

The Abu Dhabi Police called on motorists and passengers to use seatbelts, and warned that penalties will be slapped on those not abiding by the federal traffic law amendments, introduced in July last year.

The Abu Dhabi Police said that a whopping 10,766 drivers were slapped with fines of Dh400 between July 1 and December 2017, for breaking the rule.

Brigadier Mohammed Dahi Al Humairi, director of the Abu Dhabi Traffic Department at the Abu Dhabi Police, said it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that all passengers are wearing seatbelts. “This is to maintain safety and prevention of injuries and deaths during accidents,” he added.

He stressed that the Abu Dhabi Police will continue to raise awareness through their social media platforms, which aim to target all segments of the society, as well as awareness programmes and initiatives in schools, universities and other educational institutions. The amended federal traffic law had brought new regulations and fines, including penalties for drivers failing to ensure all passengers are wearing their seatbelts. The changes, which included higher fines for higher speeds, more black points, as well as the confiscation of vehicles for several offences, aim to improve road safety and road behaviour across the country.