Heads up – more sneaky street photographers are coming your way! The Dubai Police has just announced that they are rolling out ‘silent radars’ across residential areas. Unlike traditional radars, these devices don’t flash when they catch violators. They are designed to monitor a variety of traffic offences more subtly, encouraging safer driving habits such as wearing seatbelts and not using mobile phones while driving for your entire journey and not just when Waze tells you there is a ‘speed trap’ ahead (yes, don’t be fooled, Dubai knows all about the tricks of Waze). So, come with me, and I’ll tell you where these new silent radars will be placed and the fines for speeding in Dubai.
Also read: BREAKING – Speed Limit Changes Across Key UAE Roads
What Fines Can You Get While Driving?
Not wearing a seatbelt can cost you AED 400 and 4 black points, while using a hand-held phone while driving can lead to a fine of AED 800 and 4 black points. The new silent radars will be precise in capturing such behavioural violations while driving. The exact timeline for when these radars will be operational hasn’t been revealed yet, but Dubai Police assures that all fines are double-checked before being issued. Salma Mohammed Rashed Almarri, head of the Traffic Awareness section, emphasised, “We always verify the fines with video footage, especially for behavioural violations like using phones and seatbelt infractions.”
What Can The Silent Radars See?
Hassan Ali Taleb Alhamer from the Traffic Technology Department highlighted that these radars do much more than just detect speeding. They also catch illegal U-turns and other traffic violations. Dubai’s roads are equipped with advanced traffic control technologies that monitor mobile phone usage, seatbelt violations, and more. These radars can oversee six main lanes on a highway and two side lanes, read license plates, and identify if they are obscured. They can also detect violations even while a vehicle is partially hidden by another.
Also read: ‘The World’s Greenest Highway’ Is Coming To Dubai’s E311 – What’s Changing In The City?
Pedestrian Safety is Key
Officer Salma also pointed out the importance of stopping completely at pedestrian intersections. While it may be annoying to always stop for multiple pedestrians to cross, you must remember that at a zebra crossing, pedestrians have the right of way first. Fines for not letting people cross or driving on the zebra crossing while pedestrians are walking can reach up to AED 500!
Educating & Enforcing For Safer Roads
The Dubai Police Awareness Department is actively educating drivers on maintaining a safe following distance, with fines of up to AED 400 for violations. The advanced systems in place are not just about issuing fines but ensuring the safety of all road users. While many drivers slow down near known radar locations, the primary goal is consistent and safe driving across the city.
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