DUBAI // Rewarding motorists who are safe behind the wheel can be as effective in cutting the number of traffic accidents as detaining reckless drivers – especially young drivers – for 24 hours, Dubai Police hope.
Maj Gen Mohammed Al Zafeen, head of the Federal Traffic Council and assistant to the Dubai Police chief in operational affairs, said taking away a motorist’s freedom would make the roads safer.
“When people go to get paperwork done and wait for two hours, they get [agitated] and think they’ve wasted a lot of time. Imagine if they’re detained for 24 hours,” he said.
Maj Gen Al Zafeen said drivers who did not commit a traffic offence last year would be honoured by police next month as part of the annual white points system.
“We started in 2013 by honouring 700 motorists, and now in 2016 we’ll be honouring more than double that amount,” said Maj Gen Al Zafeen.
“The system is still being developed, and we believe the more we reward people for good behaviour, the more positive the effect will be.”
In Dubai, one person was killed by a driver aged between 18 and 21 with 35 people suffering injuries in the first three months of this year. During all of 2015, 15 people were killed in accidents involving motorists aged 18 to 21 and more than 160 people injured.
Sami Al Mufleh, chief executive of Hills Advertising, which is working with Dubai Police as part of the white points campaign, said the project promoted road safety, in particular among the youth.
“We are happy to give the winner a vehicle worth Dh80,000 and we look forward to honouring more winners next year,” he said.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
