Abu Dhabi: A total of 4,775 vehicles were seized last year for driving at speeds that exceeded 200km/h, the Abu Dhabi Police revealed on Saturday.
The vehicles were seized for posing tremendous risks to other motorists and road users.
Brigadier Hussain Al Harithi, director of the Abu Dhabi Police’s Traffic and Patrols Directorate, warned drivers against reckless driving, and pointed out that legal action would be taken against motorists who flouted the rules in a manner that could cause traffic accidents and result in fatalities and injuries.
In this particular case, the seized vehicles were impounded for a month, and motorists were given 12 black points. A Dh1,000 fine was also levied. Such penalties are applicable for drivers who exceed the road’s speed limit by 60km/h.
In case a motorist is caught speeding a second time, Brig Al Harithi explained that he or she will be prosecuted.
“The higher the speed, the less time there is to stop, which makes it more difficult to avoid traffic accidents. It is therefore imperative that motorists respect the legal speed limits,” he said.
The official also called on drivers to adhere to the designated speed limits, which have been set after thorough studies of the city’s traffic flow. He added that the locations of speed radars and cameras have also been announced, and that drivers should comply with the limits for their own safety and that of other road users.
Abu Dhabi Police are continuing to monitor traffic through the installed radars, and via frequent patrols, the statement said.
In May 2014, the police announced that 185 new radars had been installed on internal and external roads to detect speeding motorists, as well as those who jumped red lights. Police statistics also revealed that speeding constituted nearly 79 per cent of traffic violations in the first quarter of last year. In 2013, 15 per cent of all road traffic accidents were caused by speeding motorists.
More than 169 awareness campaigns were therefore conducted by the police last year to encourage greater adherence to traffic regulations.
