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28 March 2024

UAE drives towards total ban on smoking in cars

Major General Mohammed Al Zafeen (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Staff

The UAE could totally ban smoking inside cars in line with a proposal by the Dubai traffic police chief, who said he would soon push for such a ban.

Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, who heads the Federal Traffic Council, said he would soon make a recommendation to the council for a total ban on smoking inside cars and the introduction of penalties against violators.

“Smoking must be totaled banked inside cars because smoking is not less dangerous than using mobile phones while driving as both need to be used by the two hands,” he said, quoting by the Arabic language daily Al Bayan.

“I will soon make this recommendation to the federal traffic council.
“We need to totally ban smoking inside cars and impose fines against abusers.”

He said smoking is now a key cause for serious accidents in case a lighted cigarette falls off the smoker’s hand while driving.

“This could cause a fatal accident in case the car is going at 120 kmph.

“We have also found that most drivers do not comply with a decision not to smoke at petrol stations.”