The Dubai Police have emphasized the increased penalties for those found running red lights or engaging in reckless driving. Offenders will now face a substantial AED50,000 fine, a 30-day impoundment of their vehicle, and an addition of 23 black points to their driver’s license.
The police shed light on this issue in a video aired on Sunday, presenting eight startling episodes of reckless driving incidents in the city, all caught on camera. The clips provided evidence of vehicles blatantly ignoring red signals, resulting in dangerous collisions at intersections.
One particularly distressing footage featured a cyclist being hit and thrown from their bicycle by a car that didn’t halt at a pedestrian crossing. Another showed a motorist crashing into a motorbike waiting at a crossing.
Under recent regulations, reckless driving, defined as actions that jeopardize lives or property, is now a major traffic violation in Dubai and attracts the AED50,000 fine. Similarly, running a red light incurs the same fine, while street racing has a steeper penalty of AED100,000.
It’s worth noting that the Dubai Police have already started enforcing this law. Last month, two individuals were slapped with the AED50,000 fine: one for aggressive tailgating and overtaking, and another for attempting daring stunts on a local highway.