UAE traffic: Marked reduction in red signal violations on Sharjah roads

Sharjah - Sharjah Police record 25.5 per cent decline in road violations after intensifying traffic awareness campaign.

Afkar Ali Ahmed

Published: Wed 10 Feb 2021, 10:10 AM

An intensified traffic awareness campaign and the installation of road monitoring devices is yielding good results for the Sharjah Police.

According the authorities, jumping the red signal violation has declined in the emirate by 25.5 per cent in 2020.

Lt. Col. Mohammad Allai Al Naqbi, Director of Traffic and Patrols Department at the Sharjah Police, confirmed that red light violations last year decreased significantly as compared to 2019.

Advertising

The main reasons, he said, for jumping the red signal include the usage of mobile phones while driving, over speeding at intersections to beat the red light and negligence by motorists.

The penalty for motorists violating the red signal rule include seizure of the vehicle for 30 days,12 black points and a fine of up to Dh1,000.

He pointed out that the decrease in violations is due to the repeated awareness campaigns organised by the Traffic and Patrols Department of Sharjah Police.

Adding that there has also been a decrease in the number of causalities caused by accidents and collisions that take place when motorists jump the red light. No deaths or serious injuries were also reported due to accidents caused by motorists while overtaking other vehicles, except for two minor injuries.

The awareness campaign is held annually according to a set plan. It is based on traffic statistics and addresses traffic issues that can be solved through patrolling, radars, and CCTV cameras.

The campaign aims to educate drivers about the dangers of jumping the red signal and how it can lead to fatal accidents. It calls on motorists to drive with caution to avoid violations and fines.

Lt. Col. Muhammad Alai Al Naqbi urged motorists to be focussed and attentive while driving, and avoid using mobile phones. Jumping red light, he said, can be dangerous as there is a high probability of colliding with vehicles coming in different directions at signal intersections.

File photo