UAE traffic violations soar in 2013 as drivers ignore warnings

Traffic authorities in the UAE recorded more than five million motoring offences on roads across the Emirates last year, 600,000 more offences than were recorded in 2012.

The latest figures from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) show that nearly 5.5 million traffic offences were registered on various roads in the country during 2013.

Officials said the number of traffic offences last year increased by 11.4 per cent compared with the previous year’s findings.

According to new figures, 4,865,386 driving offences were recorded during 2012, while motorists committed 5,492,475 offences in 2013. Authorities said the majority of these offences were for speeding and reckless driving.

Brigadier Ghaith Al Zaabi, traffic coordination director at the MoI, said: “There have been efforts by traffic authorities in the UAE to control offences on roads, but many drivers seem to not be cooperative as the figure for violations is still high.”

He said the authorities will this year increase road safety awareness campaigns and put more patrol vehicles and police officers on various roads across the country to catch offenders. More radars will also be installed.

“Violating traffic laws is the major cause of road accidents and has resulted in many deaths and injuries,” said Al Zaabi.

The officer urged drivers to strictly abide by traffic laws to avoid road accidents, stressing that accidents have negative effects on the country’s economic, social and environmental aspects. Traffic authorities said the UAE government spends large amounts of money every year on various programmes that could help to improve safety and reduce accidents on roads across the country.

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