Deadline set for ending 50 per cent discount on traffic fines in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Police said on Sunday the decision was to improve road safety and was made after a 'thorough and in-depth' study on traffic safety measures.

Powered by automated translation

A fifty per cent discount in the cost of traffic fines in Abu Dhabi will end on August 1.

Abu Dhabi Police said on Sunday the decision was to improve road safety and was made after a “thorough and in-depth” study on traffic safety measures.

The number of deaths on the emirate’s roads increased from 54 to 77 in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2015, said Brig Hussain Al Harthi, director-general of central operations at Abu Dhabi Police.

The emirate has recorded 489 road accidents so far this year, compared with 477 in the same period last year. Injuries were also up, from 36 to 76.

In June 2010, police introduced a 50 per cent discount on unpaid traffic fines, although motorists who committed serious offences would still have their vehicles impounded and accumulate 24 black points.

In May, when the idea to end the discount was first announced, Brig Al Harthi said the main causes of accidents were sudden swerving, failure to observe a safe distance between cars, excessive speed, poor lane discipline and red-light jumping.

Brig Al Harthi said a plan was under way to request the government abolish the fine reduction system as part of preventive measures aimed at improving traffic safety levels.

Removing the discount would play an important factor in deterring most, but not all, motorists from committing road offences, said Dr Salaheddine Bendak, an associate professor at the University of Sharjah.

newsdesk@thenational.ae