For Emirati driver H. K, 2023 was her worst year for fines since she began driving, accumulating a total of Dh80,000. “Most of them were speeding fines,” she said. “Some I did not know about, but I knew I had been speeding in some cases. Most of it happened on long drives when I was unsure of the speed limits.”
Other fines she accumulated included those for lane discipline and using a mobile phone while driving. H. K admitted that she has received a number of speeding fines in previous years as well.
“At the beginning of every year, I think I am going to drive better this year but at some point I invariably get late and I end up speeding,” she said. “However, when I saw the bill of Dh80,000, my jaw dropped. It was the highest amount I ever paid. I am actively trying to make sure that I am a better driver this year.”
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Out of the 9,100 people who responded to a Khaleej Times poll about traffic fines, over 7,500 people said that they had accrued fines of less than Dh5,000 every year. However, more than 500 people said that they had penalties amounting to over Dh20,000.
Last week, Abu Dhabi police announced that they had penalised over 300,000 people for driving too slowly on their highways. The emirate introduced a minimum speed of 120kmph in the first two lanes of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road in both directions in May 2023 to prevent traffic accidents.
One person who got fined was Indian expat Shanil Abdul Rahman. “My wife and I travel between Ajman and Abu Dhabi a lot and sometimes, we get caught on that particular highway,” he said. “We got some penalties last year. This year when we did our yearly budget, we set aside Dh2,000 for fines. However, despite our best efforts, we got the fine for slow speed, twice on the same road within minutes of each other. We are already up to Dh1,400 with half a year to go so I am doubtful if we can stay within our budget.”
For many, fines are a matter of consideration even when making important decisions. German expat Maheen Husainy said that it was one of the aspects that she and her husband talked about when thinking of places to move.
“Right now we live in Jumeirah and my husband works close by,” she said. “As rent prices went up, we had a discussion on moving a bit further away from the city. However, when we calculated the expenses of petrol and the possibilities of fines, we decided to stay on in Jumeirah.”
She said that as an experienced driver, she knew that fines are more likely when moving further away. “The longer the daily drive, the more there are chances for negligence,” she said. “Whether it is for speeding or lane discipline, driving longer distances when tired can cause a lapse in judgement. Right now, my children’s school and husband’s office is close by so we considerably reduce our instances of distracted driving.”
Learning a lesson
According to Pakistani expat Sara K. (name changed for privacy), the largest fine she has seen in her family was the Dh30,000 racked up by her younger brother. “It was the first year he got his licence,” she recalled. “He was 18 and thought he was Michael Schumacher. There were many speeding fines. When our father got the bill at the time of the renewal, it was like a bomb that was dropped on the family.”
After that, strict regulations were put in place for her brother. “Our father became very strict and my brother had to follow many rules,” she said. “However, it did force my brother to clean up his act. After that, he never got a speeding fine until he migrated from Dubai to Australia last year. It really taught him a lesson.”
Another person for whom the fines were a deterrent was Emirati 34-year-old Noora T. “In 2018, I got fines of Dh6,000 on my car,” she said. “I remember seeing the bill and being shocked. I had not realised how many speeding fines I got. That year I decided that I would not get a fine again.”
Six years later, she is going strong on her resolve. “I have not got single fine since then,” she said. “I drive very carefully and put away my phone when I am at the wheel. I work very hard to earn my money and I would much rather use it to buy myself gifts or spend it on something that I enjoy rather than pay it in fines.”
Here are some violations and their fines listed by Dubai Police:
- Driving in a way that poses danger to drivers’ life or lives and safety of others: Fine of Dh2000 and 23 black points. Vehicle is confiscated for 60 days
- Using a hand held mobile phone for driving: Fine of Dh800 and 4 black points
- Jumping a red signal by light vehicles: Fine of Dh1000 and 12 black points. Vehicle is confiscated for 30 days.
- Exceeding speed limit by more than 80km/h: Fine of Dh1000 and 12 black points. Vehicle is confiscated for 30 days.
- Entering a road dangerously: Fine of Dh600 and 6 black points
- Driving a vehicle with an expired driving license: Fine of Dh500 and 4 black points. Vehicle is confiscated for 7 days.
- Allowing children under 10 years old or under 145cm to sit in front seats: Fine of Dh400