The Impacts of Penalty Points System in Dubai - Case Study Example

UAE Black Tickets The current population of Dubai is approximately 1.44 million, and its current urban area is approximately 500 square kilometers. Planners project that by 2020, the population will reach 5.25 million. Additionally, area expansion is expected to jump to more than 2,200 square kilometers. Dubai is known as a car oriented city and the registrations of personal vehicles reflects this characterization. There are 541 cars per 1,000 population Not only does this figure rival major urban areas around the world, it exceeds New York, which has 444 cars per 1,000 persons, Singapore with 111 cars per person, and London with 345 cars per 1,000 persons.1 At present, the areas is plagued by its inadequate road capacity, which creates a considerable amount of congestion. In a study conducted by Dr. Yousuf Al Hosani, he points out that the global mortality rate for motoring accidents is close to 19 per 100,000 persons.The UAE rate is close to 20 per 100,000. His report states that in the UAE, the mortality rate is from two to three times higher than countries with similar demographics, such as the United Kingdom it is 6.1 per 100,000, And in Australia it is close to 8.8 per 100,000 persons. Dr. Hosani’s study also points out that motoring accidents in the UAE, is second only to cardiovascular disease, as the second leading cause of death, totaling more than 15 per cent of the total deaths.2 New ticketing program In a earnest effort to curb roadway accidents, the Ministry of Interior, implemented new amendments to the federal traffic law on March 1, 2008.The new system is designed to enable the police to administer blanket prevention of traffic violations. Whereas the old system, only ticketed individuals for spot offences, the new system will issue black points to errant motorists, even in absentia. Additionally, the new system will place an emphasis on issuing more stringent penalties for offenders of the laws. With the new black ticket laws, when an individual driver scores 24 points during a one year period, the license will be suspended for three months, and the vehicle will be impounded for 30 days.Second offenders will be subjected to license suspension for six months, and will be subjected to retesting, upon the third offence ,prior to reinstatement. The rules are applicable to everyone who operates a motor vehicle in the UAE.3 The Ministry of Interior has gone so far as to state that they will deport expatriates who routinely violate the country’s traffic laws. Government statistics point to the fact that, at least one person every two hours is met by an accident on UAE highways every day. During the year of 2006, more than 1,050 persons were killed in vehicle accidents across the UAE.4 Types of motoring infractions Speeding in 2007 was the cause of more than 80 per cent of the traffic accidents in the UAE. In January 2006, the police recorded a 300 per cent increase in radar violations over the previous six years. The last six years have seen a total of 8.9 million radar violations, rising steadily to 754,111 violations in 2005. During 2005, there was more than one radar violation per minute throughout last year or 2.065 violations every day.5 During 2006 speeding offences declined to 140,636, compared to 150,395 offences in 2005. It is commonly recognized that the increase in the number of radar placed, served as both enforcement, which detected the offenders and served as an incentive to curb the offence of others, being aware of the existence of the devices. The traffic death toll was 878 in 2006 and 829 in 2005. In 2007, the traffic death toll rose by an alarming 20 per cent while the number of traffic offences rose by 14 per cent as compared to 2006. . The traffic death toll was 878 in 2006 and 829 in 2005.6 Accidents involving two vehicles or more, which is associated with speeding or improper road etiquette accounted for the majority ( 49%) of all traffic accidents. Numerically, this represented 896 accidents, which resulted in the death of 122 individuals. Coming in second and also associated with speeding is the incidence of run- over accidents, accounting for 33% of the total number of occurrences in 2006 or, 603 accidents, causing 116 deaths. The other two accident occurrences which are associated with speeding, was the auto running into an inanimate object, such as a building, tree, or bridge column. This set of circumstances accounted for 11 per cent of the total, and numbered 198, and yielded 41 deaths. Vehicles which flipped at least once accounted for 104 incidents and caused the death of 30 persons.7 Another very serious offence, which may or may not always be associated with speeding, but is none the less reckless, and dangerous, is the offence of jumping red signals which in 2006, increased to 7,000 compared to 1,719 in 2005.8 Authorities are particularily keen and vigilant in attempts to stems the rising trend of signal jumping, because of the severe consequences of the act. The potential severity of this act has prompted the officials to constitute this as a 12 point act in accordance with the black ticket concept. To further discourage drivers from becoming involved with breaking the law in this regard, the (RTA) has proposed the instillation of the flashing green signal system on all major intersections in the city. Overall primary emphasis and the focus of considerable attention will be devoted to male drivers, who are between the ages of 18 –35 years, where a majority of the 95 % accident rate among men is concentrated. March heralded the implementation of the new black ticket laws, and in the immediate, it appears that the new laws have had an affect on motorists in the UAE.The newly released numbers reveal a significant decrease in the number of traffic related offences; During the month of March, there were 31,715 offences, compared with the same time in 2007, when there were 90,117. additionally there is a continuous decline as during the month of April there were 29, 410 offences, which represents a decrease of more than 2.305 from the previous month, and a reduction of 61, 270 from April of 2007.9 From the early numbers, one could deduce that the new law is having an impact on increasing the conscious level of some drivers. On the other hand when we view the figures on the number of serious accidents which occurred in March in Abu Dhabi, there is an incremental increase (218 to 217), between 2007 and 2008, respectively. Additionally, during the month of April, we witnessed an additional incremental increase between 2007 and 2008 (223-235). The conclusion here is that the new laws have not appreciably impacted the number of serious accidents on the highway. It was a given to the RTA, that the new black ticket laws, would not serve as a panacea Consequently, prior to the laws implementation, a number of auxilialy programs were implemented. The number and frequency of police patrols have been increased, and with the implementation of a number of auxiliary measures, such as flashing green lights, increasing the number of radar units, and installing road side cameras, construction of curbs, erection of roadside fences, and an educational campaign to inform and educate the driving public on safety and highway etiquette, improving the highway network, are combined to address the urgency of responsible motoring. There is room for considerable optimism, as the number of injuries recorded in March 2007, were 381 and in 2008, they were 369. It was a remarkable showing with the death toll over the past year, as it decreased from 33 in 2007, to 26 in 2008.10 Abu Dhabi police have issued 14,349 tickets since new traffic laws were introduced on March 1 in a bid to reduce car accidents.11 Police had also withdrawn 111 driver’s licences for driving while under the influence of alcohol, and 41 truck drivers have so far had their licences seized for dangerous overtaking.12 Authorities are experiencing some recalcitrance from a number of drivers in adhering to the new laws. A recent report shows 39 drivers have had their licenses suspended for four weeks, for failure to adjust to the new road laws. Although a majority of the tickest which have been issued were for minor violations, there have been 2,283 tickets written for failure to wear seat belts, strret racing has garnered 17, causing the death of another while operating a motor vehicle accounts for one ticket, driving while intoxicated accounted for 22 tickets, driving recklessly garnered 74, for driving more than 60kph over the limit, and 303 for ignoring a red light. Conclusion The UAE is presently in various stages of development, and the growing pains which usually accompany growth, are ever present. The number of automobiles which have been introduced to the roadways, which are not equipped to adequately handle the capacity and attitudes of those using them, have resulted in some serious complications. We add the fact that the authorities were not ready to address the pending crisis, due to both technology shortfalls and manpower under deployment, and we have a motoring public, who had an extremely liberal attitude towards the rules of the road, and a cavalier attitude towards human safety. While there are an abundance of drivers who abide by the laws of the road, there is a segment of the population, who have forgotten specific courtesies. It has been offered that more than 90% of the fatal vehicle accidents are committed by males between the ages of 18-35 years of age, this does not excuse those males who are older, nor does it eliminate women. There is a growing problem with the use of seat belts, and the placing of toddlers in harnesses as specified by law.The failure to pay strict attention to this law, has resulted in the death of numerous children. Obviously, it should be mandatory for children to wear seat belts whenever they are passengers in automobiles, adherence to this practice could avoid many serious injuries. It is said that of the 232 people who were killed in vehicle accidents last year, that more than 40 per cent of them were not wearing seat belts. The authorities appear to have a comprehensive approach to implement their concern for public safety on the roadways. Not only have they sought to penalize the errant motorist, they have established a network of monitoring measures, which alerts the motoring public of their concern and presence. More motorists are now being cited because the authorities have also installed roadside cameras, as well as increased the number of road side radar to clock the speeds of those on the roadway. With the new laws, the police can now pull those over, when they are clocked over the legally prescribed limits, and with the presence of roadside cameras, they can now issue citations in absentia. The RTA is about the business of finding solutions to the many road pitfalls, which ostensibly empower some drivers to disobey the laws. For those drivers who refuse to recognize the seriousness of running red lights, the new law only allows two infractions, before a license is suspended, nonetheless the incidence of abuse remains to be high. As an auxiliary measure the FTA has designed a flashing light, this will ostensibly warn the motorist to be cautious upon approach. If the law and the gesture is not incentive enough, the additional deterrent is the placement of cameras at all stop light locations.The RTA is also about the business of reeducating motorist about possible hazards, and offering them viable safety alternatives.The comprehensive approach, also includes the improvement and expansion of the existing network of roads and highways. There is no question that the concern of the authorities is genuine. Moreover, the authorities are committed to improving the safety conditions on the roadways. It is only a matter of time, whereas the motorists will accept the sincerity, and realize that the concern is being translated in the absolute enforcement of the laws. In time the new laws coupled with all of the other changes and improvements which are geared towards fostering safety, will be shared by the motoring public. The thrust which the authorities have placed upon road safety, indicates they will not be baking down. As a consequence, over time the numbers leaning in the direction of less property destroyed, and fewer lives lost, will begin to reflect substantial progress. . Bibliography Shariff, O. Dubai traffic woes inflict losses of Dh4.6b a year, Gulf News 12/13/07 Yousuf Al Hosani, Global accidents mortality rates, Ministry of Health annual report, 2003. Ministry of Interior, New Black ticket amendments Ibid Alia Theeb, 300 percent increase in radar offences, Gulf News 3/08/06 Rayeesa Absal, (2008) Dramatic fall in traffic offences in UAe since implementation of new laws, June 10. 2008 Ibid Staff report, (2007) Closing months saw a spurt in offences, Gulf news 1 – 11 – 07 Rayeesa Absal, (2008), dramatic fall in traffic offences in UAE since implementation of new law, Gulf Times June 10, 2008 Ibid Amy Glass (2008) Police issue 14, 349 traffic tickets under new laws Ibid Read More

With the new black ticket laws, when an individual driver scores 24 points during a one year period, the license will be suspended for three months, and the vehicle will be impounded for 30 days.Second offenders will be subjected to license suspension for six months, and will be subjected to retesting, upon the third offence ,prior to reinstatement. The rules are applicable to everyone who operates a motor vehicle in the UAE.3 The Ministry of Interior has gone so far as to state that they will deport expatriates who routinely violate the country’s traffic laws.

Government statistics point to the fact that, at least one person every two hours is met by an accident on UAE highways every day. During the year of 2006, more than 1,050 persons were killed in vehicle accidents across the UAE.4 Types of motoring infractions Speeding in 2007 was the cause of more than 80 per cent of the traffic accidents in the UAE. In January 2006, the police recorded a 300 per cent increase in radar violations over the previous six years. The last six years have seen a total of 8.

9 million radar violations, rising steadily to 754,111 violations in 2005. During 2005, there was more than one radar violation per minute throughout last year or 2.065 violations every day.5 During 2006 speeding offences declined to 140,636, compared to 150,395 offences in 2005. It is commonly recognized that the increase in the number of radar placed, served as both enforcement, which detected the offenders and served as an incentive to curb the offence of others, being aware of the existence of the devices.

The traffic death toll was 878 in 2006 and 829 in 2005. In 2007, the traffic death toll rose by an alarming 20 per cent while the number of traffic offences rose by 14 per cent as compared to 2006. . The traffic death toll was 878 in 2006 and 829 in 2005.6 Accidents involving two vehicles or more, which is associated with speeding or improper road etiquette accounted for the majority ( 49%) of all traffic accidents. Numerically, this represented 896 accidents, which resulted in the death of 122 individuals.

Coming in second and also associated with speeding is the incidence of run- over accidents, accounting for 33% of the total number of occurrences in 2006 or, 603 accidents, causing 116 deaths. The other two accident occurrences which are associated with speeding, was the auto running into an inanimate object, such as a building, tree, or bridge column. This set of circumstances accounted for 11 per cent of the total, and numbered 198, and yielded 41 deaths. Vehicles which flipped at least once accounted for 104 incidents and caused the death of 30 persons.

7 Another very serious offence, which may or may not always be associated with speeding, but is none the less reckless, and dangerous, is the offence of jumping red signals which in 2006, increased to 7,000 compared to 1,719 in 2005.8 Authorities are particularily keen and vigilant in attempts to stems the rising trend of signal jumping, because of the severe consequences of the act. The potential severity of this act has prompted the officials to constitute this as a 12 point act in accordance with the black ticket concept.

To further discourage drivers from becoming involved with breaking the law in this regard, the (RTA) has proposed the instillation of the flashing green signal system on all major intersections in the city. Overall primary emphasis and the focus of considerable attention will be devoted to male drivers, who are between the ages of 18 –35 years, where a majority of the 95 % accident rate among men is concentrated. March heralded the implementation of the new black ticket laws, and in the immediate, it appears that the new laws have had an affect on motorists in the UAE.

The newly released numbers reveal a significant decrease in the number of traffic related offences; During the month of March, there were 31,715 offences, compared with the same time in 2007, when there were 90,117.

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