Abu Dhabi Police issued more than 11,000 traffic fines in the first quarter of this year for vehicles technically unfit for road use, state news agency WAM reported.
The fines issued by the Traffic and Patrols Directorate included 7,040 fines for worn-out tyres; 2,544 fines for vehicles without brake lights; 147 fines for vehicles with gas emissions exceeding specified standards; and 179 fines for vehicles with no lights on the back or sides of trailer containers.
Colonel Mohammed Ahmed Saif Al Mazrouei, chief of the peripheral regions traffic section at the directorate, urged drivers to inspect rear and side-view mirrors, signals, brake efficiency, vehicle oil-level and quality, and air conditioning and cooling systems.
“In case of engine overheating, drivers must wait until they are certain that the engine is cool before opening the radiator cap and filling it with water. They need to make sure they close the engine cover, restart the engine and then head to the nearest vehicle repair shop,” Al Mazrouei added.
The colonel also encouraged motorists to keep basic safety items in their vehicles, such as a spare tyre, tool kit, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flares or a reflective triangle, a mobile device battery charger, an electric tyre inflator and a flashlight.
Abu Dhabi Police also outlined a list of sanctions for unfit commercial vehicles, as follows:
• Driving a vehicle that causes pollution: Fine of AED 500
• Operating a vehicle unfit for driving: Fine of AED 200 and vehicle confiscation for seven days
• Driving with tyres in poor condition: Fine of AED 200 and vehicle confiscation for seven days
• Broken lights: Fine of AED 200, six black points
• Broken indicator lights: Fine of AED 100, two black points