One in eight UAE drivers slapped with black points in 2013

More than half a million motorists received black points, while more than 2,500 drivers had their licences seized after accumulating 24 or more black points.

Jumping a red light and speeding on city roads are some of the traffic offences that caused motorists in the UAE to receive black points. Ryan Carter / The National

More than half a million drivers in the UAE were given black points for traffic offences last year, statistics from the Ministry of Interior’s traffic coordination department show.

About 508,924 motorists, or 13 per cent of the country’s drivers, received black points and more than 2,500 drivers had their licences seized after reaching 24 black points.

Brig Ghaith Al Zaabi, head of the TCD, said drivers who exceeded the 24-point limit represented only 0.5 per cent of the number of motorists who received demerit points.

Brig Al Zaabi told Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister paper of The National, that this result showed the efficiency of the points system.

Driving through a red light carries eight black points, speeding on city roads 12 points, and failing to ensure the road is clear before entering it is four points, he said.

He said six points were given for a sudden swerve, failure to observe lane discipline, driving in prohibited areas, tailgating and failing to give way to pedestrians.

A total of 340,464 drivers received four points; 164,628 received 5 to 12 points; 1,157 had 13 to 18 points; 94 received between 19 and 23 points; and 2,581 drivers received 24 or more demerit points (0.5 per cent).

Drivers lose their licence for three months after the points limit is reached.

A temporary licence holder who accumulates 24 black points will lose it for six months and has to pass a driving rehabilitation course.