Hidden Radars to Catch Speedsters
DUBAI — Speed radars will soon hang from trees, electrical poles or even bridges, silently capturing ‘arrogant’ speeding drivers, without so much as the flash of a camera bulb to alert.
Brigadier Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, Director of General Department of Traffic, said 15 of the radars, which can detect and shoot speeding cars from 150 metres away, are being tested now before being rolled out from July 15.
“Motorists must oblige with the specified speed limit on Dubai’s internal roads and highways or they will be nabbed by gun radars which would help police catch the ‘arrogant’ drivers who don’t comply with the speed limits,” Al Zafin said.
“The gun radars will be available anywhere, either in police patrols, trees, near electricity poles at bridges or in the middle of the road.”
Al Zafin said many motorists have been caught already but action won’t be taken against motorists caught on the radars during the trials. From July 15 anyone who does not oblige with speed limits will be penalised. Motorists face fines of upto Dh2,000 and eight black points: the accrual of 24 points for speeding leads to license suspension.
The radars will also be distributed in residential areas with specific areas identified as in need of monitoring.
Al Zafin said he expected a rise in the number of motorists caught speeding with the use of these radars, which he said would deter drivers from the unsafe practice, reducing fatalities and losses in terms of money and property.
The number of offences recorded in Dubai in 2008 amounted to Dh2.46 million — a 150 per cent increase on the year before.
By the end of 2009, 1,000 radars will be monitoring Dubai’s roads. These radars will be linked to the Dubai Police Operations Room, where images from 1,200 cameras will relay pictures to 40 monitors. The additional cameras will also monitor traffic violations such as parking in prohibited places.
Brigadier Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, Director of General Department of Traffic, said 15 of the radars, which can detect and shoot speeding cars from 150 metres away, are being tested now before being rolled out from July 15.
“Motorists must oblige with the specified speed limit on Dubai’s internal roads and highways or they will be nabbed by gun radars which would help police catch the ‘arrogant’ drivers who don’t comply with the speed limits,” Al Zafin said.
“The gun radars will be available anywhere, either in police patrols, trees, near electricity poles at bridges or in the middle of the road.”
Al Zafin said many motorists have been caught already but action won’t be taken against motorists caught on the radars during the trials. From July 15 anyone who does not oblige with speed limits will be penalised. Motorists face fines of upto Dh2,000 and eight black points: the accrual of 24 points for speeding leads to license suspension.
The radars will also be distributed in residential areas with specific areas identified as in need of monitoring.
Al Zafin said he expected a rise in the number of motorists caught speeding with the use of these radars, which he said would deter drivers from the unsafe practice, reducing fatalities and losses in terms of money and property.
The number of offences recorded in Dubai in 2008 amounted to Dh2.46 million — a 150 per cent increase on the year before.
By the end of 2009, 1,000 radars will be monitoring Dubai’s roads. These radars will be linked to the Dubai Police Operations Room, where images from 1,200 cameras will relay pictures to 40 monitors. The additional cameras will also monitor traffic violations such as parking in prohibited places.
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