DUBAI // Patrols will begin targeting aggressive drivers on the Dubai stretch of the Emirates Road today and issue on-the-spot fines to offenders.
The patrols mark the start of phase two of the Hostile Driving Campaign by the Dubai Police Traffic Department.
During phase one, which started two weeks ago, police issued 1,378 on-the-spot fines to aggressive motorists on Sheikh Zayed Road and impounded 16 vehicles.
Eight police cars monitored motorists driving between the World Trade Centre and the Mall of the Emirates, issuing fines to those who committed potentially dangerous offences such as speeding, tailgating and overtaking.
The same number of cars - some unmarked - will now police the Dubai stretch of Emirates Road.
Capt Maher bin Haider, who leads the campaign, said he hoped it would be expanded to cover all of Dubai.
"People are learning from this. My team and I will not stop. This campaign is ongoing and we will bring in more manpower in the future. The goal for this project is to cover all roads in Dubai, including inner roads where many violations also occur, by next year."
He said patrol and undercover cars had been successful in issuing a large number of fines to reckless drivers in phase one of the project.
"The majority of the fines issued were for tailgating and speeding. Some of those caught were women, but the majority, about 95 per cent of them, were men under 40."
In some cases, drivers may receive more than two fines and have their car impounded at once.
"There was one man who was driving recklessly by sudden and dangerous overtaking, tailgating and speeding," said Capt bin Haider. "We stopped him and he was surprised. He apologised and said he was in a hurry. Three fines of over Dh3,000 were issued to him and we impounded his car.
"Most people are really shocked when we stop them because they do not expect us to be there. They say they know about the radars but were surprised see us.
"Emirates Road will be the next target as it is considered one of the most dangerous roads. Some drivers reach 290kmh there."
The road, which connects all the emirates, will be monitored from morning to midnight. Cars and heavy goods vehicles will be targeted, Capt bin Haider said.
"It is important that we target the trucks because they can be a big hazard for other cars on the road. Truck drivers who speed, overtake or drive on the hard shoulder will be stopped and fined.
"We hope they [lorry drivers] will quickly learn from each other as the word gets out and they realise that we are watching."
Capt bin Haider said punishing drivers was not necessarily the only way to fight the aggressive driving culture.
"People won't learn by punishment," he said. "It is important that courses are given at schools, universities and companies, and campaigns to raise awareness are carried out regularly.
"People need to learn the dangers and be given the information on where to go to release their energy. A controlled and safe environment like the Dubai autodrome is ideal if you would like to race cars."
rabubaker@thenational.ae
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● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
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In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
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“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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