Increased fines for mobile usage while driving in UAE

Claimed to be the leading cause for distraction amongst motorists in the country, Police forces around the UAE are cracking down on drivers who use their mobile phone while driving.  In a statement released on social media, Abu Dhabi police warned motorists against the usage of mobile phones when driving for their own safety and for the safety of those around them.

Focusing specifically against playing games while stuck in traffic, Police have revealed that those caught using their mobile phone while driving will be issued a fine of AED 800 and four black points. As per an online survey conducted by the Ministry of Interior, mobile phone usage was pinpointed as the leading cause of distraction among motorists who cause serious accidents.

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In the survey, a whopping 71.4% of respondents claimed mobile phones as being their main cause of distraction on the road, with 17.7% claiming attending to children, and a lesser 10.9% claiming eating and drinking in the driver’s seat were their main cause of distraction.

In 2018, traffic authorities accounted 88,619 mobile phone violations committed by drivers across the UAE, averaging a concerning 243 offences per day.