34,000 without seat belts in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Police punished more than 33,000 motorists caught not using the seat belt while driving their cars in the first half of 2015.

Police said the offenders were fined Dh400 and had four black points added to their traffic record in line with federal traffic laws in the UAE.

“There were 33,884 such offences in the first half of this year. The penalties in these offences are intended to force drivers and other car users to use the seat belt to preserve their lives as studies have shown that the belt reduces death risk by 40-60 per cent in accidents,” said Brigadier Mohammed Al Kitbi, acting director of the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols department.

He told ‘Emarat Al Youm’ daily that the penalties also apply to those who allow children below 10 years to sit in the vehicle’s front seat.

“We call on all car users to ensure children under that age are seated in the back seat for their safety,” he said.

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