Speeding cars to be seized

The stiff penalty was ordered by Lieutenant-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police.

He also ordered the traffic department to intensify its traffic safety awareness campaigns.

Brigadier Engineer Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, Director of the General Traffic Department, said that the Lt-Gen. Dhahi had ordered to seize all cars caught driving at more than 250kmph on the Dubai-Al Ain highway last year as also all cars that had been caught breaking the specified speed limits on other roads.

"Driving cars at high speeds is a reckless practice that risks the lives of both the motorists and other road users. Motorists involved in such reckless behaviour will be taken to the court," he said.

"However, the stiffer penalties being adopted against such motorists does in no way contradict with Dubai Police's human attitudes and policies in dealing with the members of the society. On the contrary, taking strict actions is preferred in this case,” he added.

He called on all motorists who have the urge to step on it and speed along the main roads and highways to listen to their inner voice which would tell them of the risks involved when driving at high speeds, both to themselves and to other motorists.

He warned that the traffic department would no longer show any kind of leniency whatsoever to any driver found driving recklessly.

Lieutenant-Colonel Abdulah Ali Al Ghaithi, the department's deputy director, revealed that new control teams had been formed headed by a senior officer with one being assigned to prevent racing on roads and another to catch those violating traffic rules and regulations.

He pointed out that the increase in the rate of fatalities and injuries on the country's roads compared to those in countries that maintain high traffic safety had necessitated the taking of such stiff measures.

"The situation also requires the collaboration and cooperation from all institutions as well as the public to help increase traffic awareness and promote a culture of safety on the roads, he aid.

"Dubai Police aims at maintaining the safety of all road users and this has prompted the department to launch a ‘Presence at field’ programme which includes organising surprise traffic campaigns on internal roads and highways that are normally targeted by reckless motorists,” he added.

"Previous year’s statistics showed that most fatal accidents occurred on highways, especially during the evening rush hour, and weekend nights and off day nights of the weekend and off days," he said.