Offence-free drivers to be honoured by Dubai Police

One thousand motorists from various nations will win prizes for not having a single violation in 2013.

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DUBAI // One thousand drivers who did not commit a traffic offence last year are to be honoured by Dubai Police.

Maj Gen Mohammed Al Zafeen said the 1,000 winners were comprised of 378 Emiratis, 215 from other Arab countries and 407 residents from the rest of the world.

“This year, we decided to divide the winners into age categories,” he said. “We wanted to give young people a chance and the inspiration to feel that even an 18-year-old can be a winner.”

There were 39 winners from the 18 to 25 age group, 274 winners from the 26 to 32 group, 355 from the 33 to 40 group and 332 drivers aged 41 or above.

Maj Gen Al Zafeen said about 60 per cent of the winners were men.

Of the winners, 159 are Emirati men and 219 are Emirati women. Of the other nationalities, 495 winners are men and 127 are women.

About 100,000 people in Dubai were given 24 “white points”, for not committing a single offence. Of those, 1,000 were selected via a draw to win various prizes, ranging from cash to hotel stays. The winner of the top prize, a Chevrolet Impala, will be announced after the final draw is made next month.

Anyone with white points can use them for a number of advantages, such as paying for traffic fines or to prevent their car from being impounded in the event of a traffic offence that merits impoundment.

To qualify, drivers must not commit offences, including using Salik motorways without credit or being issued with traffic tickets in other emirates.

After Emiratis, the next country with the most winners was India, with 204. In third place were Egyptian motorists, of which there were 71. After that were Pakistani drivers, with 34 winners; 33 Jordanians; 27 Syrians, and 25 Lebanese.

The countries with just one winner among the 1,000 included Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Greece, Indonesia and France.

The “white points” system is designed to encourage drivers to obey traffic laws and promote road safety. The aim of the police is for Dubai to have the safest roads, with the fewest car accidents and traffic offences.

dmoukhallati@thenational.ae