Dubai is set to become the first place in the region to introduce what it terms as a “white points system” involving incentives for drivers who respect traffic rules within its ongoing fight against massive traffic law abuses.

The novel project will run parallel to the existing black points system enforced by Dubai and all other UAE emirates in line with a federal law intended to curb road accidents and deter reckless motorists.

The new system follows the failure of Dubai’s latest initiative to offer discounts on traffic fines in cutting accidents. On the contrary, the number of road casualties increased sharply in the last four months of 2011, the period when the fines discount offer was in force.

“Dubai’s traffic police will enforce the new white points system this year… it includes offering incentives for committed drivers and cutting black points…it also involves discounts coupons at major shopping outlets, gifts and possibly reduction of fines for those who show respect to traffic rules,” said Dubai’s traffic police chief, Major General Mohammed Al Zaffin.

“The aim of this new system is to encourage motorists to abide by the traffic law and to show that we are not after those who violate the traffic rules but also appreciate good drivers and want to ensure they remain so.”

Zaffin said the initiative to reduce fines was counter-productive last year, with the number of those killed on roads surging to 46 in the last four months of 2011 from 36 in the same period of 2010.

He said he had recommended the abolition of any traffic fine discount on the grounds that “It was clear some persons got the wrong message.”

“Instead of taking these discounts as an incentive to comply with traffic rules, they were encouraged to continue driving recklessly and this has resulted in more deadly accidents on the roads…it does not make sense that Dubai police enforce a strategy to gradually cut deaths on the roads to zero while such a discounts system backfires.”