More than half-a-million drivers fined in Dubai

Speeding accounts for half of traffic violations in Dubai. More than half a million speedsters have been caught on radars in the first nine months of this year in the emirate, according to a top official at the Dubai Traffic Police Department.

Between January 1, 2012 and end-September, 1,426,903 traffic violations were recorded, of which more than 0.68 million offenders were caught by radars, Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen said.

According to a report in Al Khaleej, statistics released by the office of the Director-General of Dubai Traffic Police, also revealed that majority of speedsters caught were doing between 21-30kph above the speed limit.

However, there has been a decline in the number of traffic violations during the period. While January recorded 205,252 violations, August saw just 67,450 offences and 112,995 in September, Maj-Gen Zafeen said.

Number of motorists who jumped red signal also decreased during the period. There were about 2,000 red light violations in each month from January to April.

However, May to September saw just 600 offences each.

Maj-Gen Zafeen also said that increased police patrols and awareness campaigns also helped decrease fatalities on Dubai roads. Death toll in traffic-related mishaps dropped to 76 this year compared to 87 in 2011.

Jaywalkers continue to be risking their lives, he said and added that about 3,000 of them were fined during the first nine months this year.

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