Despite the continued campaign by the government to discourage texting while driving, a huge number of around 40,000 offenders continue to engage in the dangerous act.
The traffic and patrols directorate at Abu Dhabi Police reveals that a grand total of 39,334 offences were recorded against drivers using their mobile phones while driving during 2016. Additional information also conjured up for authorities to find out that 10 per cent of the road crashes in the capital city is rooted from people using their smartphones while behind the wheels.
“The use of mobile phones while driving has become an addiction for many motorists, especially the youth. Yet it’s a very big danger to road safety,” Major Sohail Faraj Al Qubaisi, head of Traffic Violations Department said, as quoted by The Khaleej Times. ”Many road accidents are being caused by lack of concentration and negligence mainly because of drivers speaking on mobile phones, browsing social network sites or taking videos while driving.”
Among the many possible results of using one’s smartphone while driving include but not limited to sudden change of lanes, drive below the minimum speed limit especially on highways and to possibly jump red lights because of lack of concentration. These exercises then could lead up to disruption of traffic flow or road accidents. Those who will be caught in the act will be mandated to pay Dh 200 and four black points on the license. – ALD
