In a significant move to enhance road safety, the Dubai Police have announced that vehicles will be impounded for up to 30 days for a range of traffic offences.
This new regulation targets behaviours such as using mobile phones while driving, tailgating, and sudden lane changes, all of which pose serious risks to both drivers and pedestrians.
According to the revised federal traffic laws, fines for these infractions range from Dhs 400 to Dhs 1,000, accompanied by the addition of four black points to the offender’s driving record. The newly instituted 30-day impoundment serves as an extra layer of punishment specifically within Dubai.
New traffic rules in Dubai
According to details, “phone driving” is defined as any distraction caused by devices while operating a vehicle. The law also emphasizes that sudden deviations that threaten the safety of lives and property, along with insufficient distance from the vehicle ahead, will result in this extended impoundment period.
This stricter penalty also applies to heavy vehicles that fail to maintain proper lane discipline.
In addition to the 30-day impoundment, the amendment outlines a 14-day impoundment for several other serious offences, including:
- Entering the road without making sure it is clear
- Reversing the vehicle in a manner that poses a danger to life or property or traffic safety
- Lane indiscipline
- Stopping in the middle of the road for no reason
- Dangerous overtaking
- Lack of necessary safety and security conditions in the vehicle
- Stopping the vehicle on the shoulder of the road in non-emergency situations, or overtaking vehicles from the shoulder
- Driving a vehicle without a licence plate
- Driving a vehicle in a manner that obstructs traffic
- Making changes to the vehicle colour without permission
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
