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19 March 2024

Dh800 fine for jumping red light in Abu Dhabi

Published
By Mohammad El Sadafy

According to Colonel Khalifa Mohammed, Director of the Traffic and Road Safety Engineering Department at the Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police, a vast number of traffic violations were recorded by the special flash-less cameras installed at a number of intersections during the months of January and February 2014.

The violations included 3,964 cases of people running red lights that were recorded by the cameras that use infrared technology and capture images without a flash.

According to the Federal Traffic Law, running a red light carries a fine of Dh800, a penalty of eight black points, and vehicle impoundment for a period of 15 days.

Traffic fines can be issued in person and in situations where the person is not present.

“The traffic control cameras, which are installed at different intersections across Abu Dhabi, operate with state-of-the-art technology and high efficiency.

They can detect vehicles that run red lights and fail to abide by the lane rules. They can also record vehicles that stop at pedestrian zones and exceed speed limits. Any other violations related to impermissible turns, over-takings and U-turns can also be registered,” said Colonel Khalifa Mohammed.

He also noted that these cameras monitor five lanes in each direction.

“They are multifunctional and can read license plates. They can also determine the numbers and types of passing vehicles and estimate the average speed and determine the numbers and directions of pedestrians while traffic lights turn green and red,” he added.

It is worth mentioning that these traffic signals cameras are part of an integrated project that aims to improve traffic safety.

As part of the project, these cameras will be installed at over 150 intersections across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. It is a modern traffic system, allowing continuous assessment of the intersections’ engineering condition, their impact on traffic safety and the occurrence of accidents.

Moreover, the system is able to find the necessary solutions by cooperating with the partners. It is also linked to the directorate’s notifications and text messaging system, as well as the Portable Variable Message Signs (PVMS).

As part of the awareness campaign which targets all motorists, taxi drivers, bus drivers, and drivers from private sector companies that is being implemented by the directorate during the month of March, the Director of the Traffic and Road Safety Engineering Department called upon motorists to improve the traffic culture, especially when it comes to the risks of running red lights.

He also urged them to follow traffic laws and regulations, reduce speeds at traffic lights and avoid speeding in order to cross a traffic light before it turns red, which can cause serious traffic accidents resulting in deaths and severe injuries.

He also pointed out that the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate seeks no financial gains by issuing traffic violations. This measure solely aims to ensure people’s safety and to maintain public property, as evidence has shown that most traffic accidents occur as a result of traffic violations.