Dubai: 30-day vehicle impounding for mobile phone use, distracted driving
New traffic rules also target lane violations and tailgating with strict penalties
Dubai Police have introduced tougher traffic regulations, enforcing a 30-day vehicle impoundment for drivers caught using mobile phones behind the wheel.
This new measure, effective immediately, is part of a broader effort to curb accidents and improve road safety, particularly focusing on distracted driving.
What are the new rules?
The new traffic amendments, approved by the Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, enforce a mandatory 30-day impoundment for several violations, including:
- Using a mobile phone while driving
- Sudden deviation that endangers lives or property
- Failing to maintain a safe distance between vehicles
- Heavy vehicles not adhering to mandatory lane discipline
These offences also carry fines ranging from Dh400 to Dh1,000, along with four black points on the driver’s licence. The 30-day impoundment is an additional measure to deter reckless behaviour.
Why focus on mobile phone use?
Distracted driving is a major contributor to road accidents in Dubai. Surveys show that one in three motorists admit to using their phones while driving. Dubai Police’s stricter stance is a direct response to rising accident rates linked to mobile phone use, aiming to make the roads safer for everyone.
Motorists caught violating the new rules will face both monetary fines and a 30-day vehicle impoundment. This is in addition to the black points added to their licence, further emphasizing the severity of distracted driving and other reckless behaviours.
14-Day Vehicle Impoundment for lesser offences
The amendments also outline a 14-day vehicle impoundment for a set of less severe, yet still dangerous, traffic violations, which include:
- Failing to ensure the road is clear before entering it
- Reversing in a way that endangers life, property, or traffic safety
- Lane indiscipline, including abrupt lane changes
- Stopping in the middle of the road without valid reason
- Overtaking in a dangerous manner
- Operating a vehicle without necessary safety or security features
- Using the road shoulder to stop or overtake, unless in an emergency
- Driving without a licence plate
- Obstructing traffic by improper driving behaviour
- Changing the vehicle’s colour without proper permission
When do the new rules apply?
The amendments were published in the Dubai Government’s official gazette on 22 October 2024, making them enforceable immediately.
Why are these rules necessary?
These new regulations are part of an ongoing effort to reduce road accidents caused by reckless and distracted driving in Dubai. Over 94 accidents in the first half of 2024 were attributed to such violations. Authorities are determined to tackle this issue through stricter enforcement and harsher penalties.