Abu Dhabi speeding motorists to face jail in major clampdown

After Dubai announced plans to get tough on speeding motorists, UAE capital Abu Dhabi has decided to follow suit, but the emirate has said anyone exceeding 200km/h will face jail  – not just hefty fines, UAE daily 7Days reported on Tuesday.

Brigadier Hussein Al Harthi, director of the traffic and patrols directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, said: “Fines are no longer enough for such drivers. Those caught driving at speeds of more than 200km/h will be prosecuted and sent to the criminal court.”

ALREADY STEPPED UP

Last week, Dubai announced plans that would see anyone speeding at 200 km/h or more face a fine of AED1,000 ($272), the confiscation of their car for two months and their case sent to the public prosecutor.

While the maximum speed limit on most major highways is 120km/h, speed radars are triggered when vehicles pass at more than 140km/h.

[RELATED STORY: Dubai to prosecute speeding motorists]

Abu Dhabi cops have stepped up patrols in the capital city and on the roads across the emirates, including Al Ain and the Western Region.  Already, some motorists have been caught traveling faster than 200km/h.

The offending drivers will now face court and those found guilty will be heavily fined and jailed, Al Harthi told the newspaper.

RECENT DROP IN FATALITIES

The UAE’s Ministry of Interior recently released the road accident statistics for 2012, showing a 13.62% drop in fatalities compared to 2011 from 727 to 628.

The figures also revealed a 3.7% drop in accidents from 6,700 to 6,454 for the same period. Meanwhile, the number of people injured dropped by 2.8% from 7,808 in 2011 to 7,586 in 2012.

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