Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
Dubai Police confiscated 176 vehicles over the past three months due to their drivers' reckless behavior, which included chaotic stunts and disturbances in residential areas. These actions generated excessive noise and jeopardized the safety and tranquility of the streets, putting both drivers and other road users at risk.
Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Director of the General Department of Traffic, declared that Dubai Police launched a traffic campaign targeting reckless and careless motorists from July to September of this year. He added that the campaign resulted in the impounding of 176 vehicles and the issuance of 251 serious violations against drivers engaged in reckless stunts.
Maj. Gen. Al Mazrouei added that police officers have observed reckless drivers on various streets across the emirate, including the Nad Al Sheba area and Al Meydan Street, deliberately causing chaos and engaging in dangerous behaviors to film themselves and attract followers on social media to boost their view counts. “This behavior disregards all traffic rules and demonstrates a complete lack of concern for the safety of road users. Such reckless actions encourage others to commit similar dangerous violations,” he continued.
Maj. Gen. Al Mazrouei highlighted that most violations involved driving behaviors that endanger the driver's life and the lives and safety of others, such as hanging out of windows or sitting on the roof of a moving vehicle, as well as reckless and careless driving. He noted that under Decree No. 30 of 2023 concerning vehicle impoundment, the fine for releasing an impounded vehicle amounts to AED 50,000, which may result in the vehicle being permanently seized.
Furthermore, the Director of the General Department of Traffic indicated that the analysis of violations revealed that most violators are tourists from outside the country. “This includes 80 violations by Asian nationals, 29 by European nationals, 40 by Emirati citizens, 7 by African nationals, and 95 violations by individuals from other nationalities,” he added.
Maj. Gen. Al Mazrouei stressed that Dubai Police will not tolerate violators of these serious offenses and warned motorists of all types of vehicles against reckless and careless driving, noting that the law punishes those who endanger their own lives or the lives of others, and those who drive in ways that could damage the road. “Violators will face vehicle impoundment and will be referred to court for legal action,” he added.
He also urged community members to report any negative behaviors they observe using the 'Police Eye' service in the Dubai Police app or by calling the 'We Are All Police' service at 901.