DUBAI: More than 2,000 motorists have been fined for flouting strict new seatbelt laws on Abu Dhabi’s roads in the first two months since the new rules were introduced.
The actual number of seatbelt violations was 2,394, that made up about a third of the overall 7,592 traffic offences committed since July 1, 2017 when they came into force.
But while this might seem like many offenses, Lt. Col. Salah Al-Humairi, deputy director of Abu Dhabi Traffic Police told UAE daily Gulf News it was 37 percent lower than the same period in 2016.
“After implementing the Federal traffic rules from July, the number of violations also reduced as compared to the corresponding months last year where number of traffic violations were registered as 11,991,” he explained.
The new rules require all people traveling in a vehicle to be wearing seatbelts, including passengers in the rear seats, while children under 4-years-old must be placed in a special safety seat.
The series of new traffic rules are aimed at reducing the number of injuries and deaths on the UAE’s roads.
Figures produced by the World Health Organization show that wearing seatbelts lowers the risk of death in accidents for front seat passengers by 40 to 50 percent and by up to 75 percent for those in rear seats.
Failure to comply with the seatbelt laws carries a fine of 400 dirhams ($109) and four black penalty points on the driver’s license.
Hundreds of UAE motorists flouting new seatbelt laws
Hundreds of UAE motorists flouting new seatbelt laws
