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29 March 2024

UAE diabetic, epileptic drivers hiding illness could face action

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By Staff

Drivers suffering from diabetes or epilepsy will be punished if they fail to inform authorities about their illness under a new UAE federal traffic law, a senior police officer was reported on Sunday as saying.

The Federal Traffic Council (FTC) said the new decision is intended to prevent fresh deadly accidents caused by ill drivers.

“Those drivers will be punished if they hide their illness whether before or after obtaining the driving licence,” said Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, FTC chairman and Dubai’s assistant police commander in chief for operations.

He said there is a plan to link the data bases at the Ministry of Health and the health departments in the UAE emirates with the traffic police and licensing departments to ensure drivers do not suffer from such chronic diseases and upgrade road safety.

Quoted by 'Emarat Al Youm' daily, he said the recent deadly accident in Ajman was caused by an epileptic driver.

“Drivers suffering from such diseases must notify authorities about their illness before obtaining the driving licence. In case of an accident, they will not be prosecuted.”