The United Arab Emirates is renowned for its modern infrastructure and its ability to adapt quickly to innovation. To remain at the forefront of road safety, the government has recently issued a new federal decree-law regarding traffic regulations. This legislation covers various aspects, ranging from the minimum age for obtaining a driving licence to a comprehensive range of fines and penalties. Let’s take a look at how these new regulations might affect the lives of drivers in the UAE.
Minimum ages for obtaining a driving licence
The new decree sets out the minimum ages required to obtain different types of driving licence:
- Motorbike : aged 17 and over
- Cars and light vehicles : aged 18 and over
- Heavy goods vehicles : aged 20 and over
These categories are designed to ensure that drivers have attained a certain level of maturity and responsibility before getting behind the wheel of different types of vehicles. This measure is crucial to ensuring road safety, taking into account the type and power of the vehicle being driven.
Stricter fines and penalties
With the increasing number of vehicles on the roads and the ongoing changes in driving behaviour, it is becoming essential to have strict regulations in place to ensure safety. The decree sets out new fines and penalties for various offences:
Inappropriate use of number plates
The incorrect or fraudulent use of number plates may result in a prison sentence and/or a a minimum fine of 20,000 dirhams. This rule is intended to prevent any attempt to conceal the vehicle’s identity, which could hamper police investigations.
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is severely punished:
- Under the influence of alcohol: imprisonment and/or a fine of between 20,000 and 100,000 dirhams
- Under the influence of narcotic substances: imprisonment and/or a fine of between 30,000 and 200,000 dirhams
This demonstrates the authorities’ firm determination to put an end to such dangerous behaviour and to reduce accidents caused by substances that impair driving ability.
Suspended driving licences
Driving with a suspended licence is also punishable by a prison sentence of up to three months and/or a a fine of at least 10,000 dirhams. This encourages drivers to sort out their situation before getting back on the road.
Fleeing the scene of an accident
Failing to report an accident or leaving the scene is an extremely serious offence and carries a penalty of up to one year’s imprisonment and/or a a fine of between 50,000 and 100,000 dirhams. This provision encourages drivers involved in accidents to accept their civil and criminal liability.
Negligence resulting in death
Causing the death of a person through careless driving may result in a prison sentence and/or a a fine of at least 50,000 dirhams. This penalty highlights the importance of driving carefully and will, hopefully, reduce the number of deaths caused by avoidable errors.
Objectives of the new decree
In issuing this decree, the UAE government is primarily seeking to:
- Improving road safety
- Reducing fatal and serious accidents
- To raise awareness of the dangers of reckless driving
These measures demonstrate a proactive approach to preventing road risks and bringing regulations into line with international standards.
Adopting and complying with these new regulations will enable drivers not only to avoid heavy penalties but also to contribute to a safer environment for everyone. Every offence punishable by law is intended to correct behaviour that endangers human lives and disrupts public order. This update to the Highway Code therefore represents a significant step towards safer roads in the United Arab Emirates.
