14,000 fined in Abu Dhabi for driving 60kph over limit since January

ABU DHABI // Police have handed out 14,000 tickets to motorists who were driving at more than 60kph above the speed limit this year so far.

Latest figures from Abu Dhabi traffic police show 100,000 tickets were issued to drivers in the first three months for speeding and dangerous driving.

Failure to fasten seatbelts accounted for 18 per cent of the fines, with 14 per cent for driving 60kph above the limit, 10 per cent for using mobile phones while driving, and 8 per cent for driving cars with worn-out tyres.

In that period there were 78 incidents of street racing, 3,616 of overtaking on the hard shoulder and 1,495 for sudden swerving.

Brig Khalifa Al Khaiaili, acting head of traffic police, said officers were focused on cutting the number of offences that could result in serious accidents.

“The law permits police to choose the appropriate violation when it comes to distracted driving,” said Gen Mohammed Al Zafeen, head of the Federal Traffic Council.

They include eating, applying make-up, adjusting the ghutra, reading newspapers or taking a selfie behind the wheel.

Nationally there were 22 deaths caused by speeding, compared with 12 in 2015, and 93 injuries.

There were 79 accidents caused by speeding, compared with 88 last year.

Brig Ghaith Al Zaabi, director general of traffic at the Ministry of Interior, attributed these accidents to drivers’ lack of awareness on the risks of speeding.

Brig Al Zaabi said that the 18-35 age category had the highest number of speeders and urged young drivers to abide by speed limits and refrain from driving recklessly.

Thomas Edelmann, founder of Road Safety UAE, said making roads safer was everyone’s job.

“Government entities, the media, NGOs, driving schools, corporations and the education sector, particularly universities, are challenged to push awareness of proper conduct on our roads,” Mr Edelmann said.

“We must address the key target audience of youths – who are responsible for the biggest part of traffic offences, accidents, injuries and fatalities – but also all traffic participants.

“Speeding, racing, illegal use of the hard shoulder, using mobile phones and driving with worn-out tyres are easily avoidable and motorists must be reminded again and again that irresponsible behaviour causes danger to themselves, their passengers and others.”

In Abu Dhabi, about 67,000 tickets were handed out to drivers in the first three months of last year, for an increase of 33 per cent.