Dubai Police to take over driving complaints


  • English
  • Arabic

DUBAI // All commercial vehicles will soon bear the number for a Dubai Police complaints hotline after the traffic authority found some companies were ignoring reports of unsafe driving to their own numbers.

The numbers usually posted on an "Am I driving safely?" sticker have no link to police, leaving it up to the companies to decide what action should be taken. But some fail to even answer the calls.

The National called several numbers to report bad driving, but did not receive one response.

"Leaving it to the companies to take action against their own drivers is like cheating," said Maj Gen Saif Al Zaffin, head of the Dubai Police traffic department. "This will contribute to road safety as police will be responsible for taking actions against bad drivers."

The issue of safety in private company vehicles was highlighted by this month's crash in Al Ain between a workers' bus and a lorry, in which 21 people died.

The Roads and Transport Authority, or RTA, hopes the police hotline will make companies more accountable.

Drivers and employers say that under the present system, most drivers are let off with a warning after a complaint and not fined unless the offence is serious.

Company managers said fines for bad driving ranged from Dh30 to Dh50 – equal to a day's pay for many drivers.

Gen Al Zaffein said a start date was yet to be set for the hotline.

Until it comes in, the RTA will continue to register vehicles that display the old stickers with private numbers.

Most drivers feared that under the new system fines and penalties would increase, while most employers welcomed the decision, saying it would ensure swift action.

"This is one of the best solutions for rash driving," said Anthony Peter, the operations manager of the tour company Arabian Dreams, who said it would prevent complaints from being "swept under the table".

"In some companies a complaint against a driver can be ignored. And if the complainant calls to check then the company can always say they fined the driver, but not really do anything.

"A common number is the best option to be sure that action is taken."

Drivers are less happy with the idea.

"I had a day's pay cut because someone complained about me but I don't know why they complained," said Wahid, who drives a van that carries 20 people between Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.

"We are just told that someone has complained ... but what did I do wrong? Someone should tell me that.

Shabbir, a driver of a maintenance van, feared complaints would increase.

"Usually people are let off with a warning unless it is very serious and there is an accident," he said. "But if there is just one complaint number there will be too many complaints.

"What is the use if we don't know why people are complaining?"

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Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: 3/5

Jawan
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Sole survivors
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Company%20profile
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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While you're here
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
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  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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At a glance

Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free

Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland

UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan

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1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

The specs

Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder

Power: 220 and 280 horsepower

Torque: 350 and 360Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT 

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JERSEY INFO

Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
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Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
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Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
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Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.

Champions parade (UAE timings)

7pm Gates open

8pm Deansgate stage showing starts

9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral

9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street

10pm City players on stage

11pm event ends