Dubai Police confiscate car and fine driver after reckless overtaking 'puts lives at risk'

Motorist was caught on camera switching lanes close to roadside barrier

Police video shows a car swerving dangerously in front of another vehicle. Photo: Dubai Police

Dubai Police have confiscated the car of a reckless driver who put lives at risk by swerving to overtake another motorist.

The force shared video of the car driver in front of the other vehicle without warning, leaving little room for manoeuvre in a lane close to a barrier.

The driver was also fined a total of Dh2,600 and given 29 black points after being found to have endangered the lives of himself and others through improper overtaking.

The vehicle will be impounded for 60 days. Motorists typically have to pay Dh50,000 ($13,614) for the release of cars impounded by Dubai Police, although penalties can reach Dh100,000 for the most serious offences.

The black points penalty will lead to the driver's licence being suspended, according to the emirate's traffic law.

Black points are penalties for serious breaches of traffic rules. The number of points given depends on the severity of the offence.

If a driver receives 24 black points within 12 months, their licence is suspended. The length of the suspension is also based on the severity of the rule breaches.

Dubai Police have impounded the vehicle. It costs at least Dh50,000 to have a car released. Photo: Dubai Police

“This reckless act posed a severe threat to his own life and the lives of others, nearly resulting in a head-on collision– an accident only avoided due to the quick reflexes of the oncoming driver,” said Brig Juma bin Suwaidan, director of traffic department at Dubai Police.

In a social media post accompanying the video, police reminded drivers to always check their mirrors and signal before changing lanes and to stay focused.

The safety plea follows two deadly crashes on the emirate's roads, caused by drivers failing to abide by traffic rules. One person died and two were injured in a three-vehicle collision in Dubai on September 1, after a motorist failed to leave a safe distance between vehicles.

The crash on the Emirates Road near Sharjah prompted Dubai Police to issue a warning on distances. The person was killed when their car hit the back of a lorry and a third vehicle smashed into the two others from behind.

On Wednesday, a motorcyclist died after crashing into a broken-down lorry on the hard shoulder of Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Police said. The crash occurred in the early hours near Arabian Ranches Bridge, as the rider travelled towards Abu Dhabi.

Dubai Police said the lorry driver stopped unsafely on the hard shoulder, leaving little space for motorists to manoeuvre around the vehicle, and did not put on hazard lights.