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28 March 2024

Using phones while driving more a concern than revising age limit: Dubai Police Chief

Published
By Mohammed El Sadafy

Major-General Khamis Matar Al Mazina, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police, said by 2020 there will be no need for people to go to police stations and instead use smart applications.

There has been a decline in the number of criminal cases, he said and added that traffic-related deaths due to use of mobile phones while driving has risen in the first quarter of this year.

Major-General Khamis Matar Al Mazina, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police

Maj.-Gen. Al Mazina was speaking at an open community session organized by Dubai Police, where more than 50 people of different nationalities participated and asked questions. The meeting was also attended by Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, Assistant Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.

Dubai-Sharjah Traffic

With regards traffic congestion during peak hours between Sharjah and Dubai, Maj.-Gen. Al Mazina said RTA in Dubai and competent authorities in Sharjah need to co-operate on finding a solution to this.

Driving Licence

In response to a recommendation of raising minimum age for applying for driving licence from 18 to 21, Maj.-Gen. Al Mazina said that the current age limit conforms to that of world standards. Maturity is not related to age, he added.

The more serious concern today is not the age limit of obtaining driving licence rather the use of mobile phones while driving, he specified.

Meanwhile, Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, Assistant Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police, said as per latest statistics, majority of motorists involved in accidents are aged between 24 and 30.

Customer Service

To a suggestion that applicants be given specific dates for specific applications at customer service centres, Maj.-Gen. Al Mazina said that Dubai Police is offering its services through smart applications. The number of transactions that require people to visit centres would be reduced significantly by 2018 and totally stopped by 2020.

Proposal Committees

Dubai Police has set up Special Committee to receive suggestions from members of public at all public departments and police stations, he said and added that all suggestions are taken seriously.

Rehabilitation Centres

In response to a question about how the police deals with drug users and drug traffickers, Maj.-Gen. Al Mazina said that the government is establishing a rehabilitation center for drug addicts to help them integrate with society.