Photo used for illustrative purpose only.

Somaya Saad, Staff Reporter

Motorists who are distracted while driving using a mobile phone will be fined Dhs800 and 4 traffic points according to the Federal Traffic Law, Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Director of the General Traffic Department at Dubai Police said to Al Khaleej.

Al Mazrouei said that being busy while driving using the phone causes risks which threaten the lives of innocent people and the driver himself, adding that among the main causes of fatal accidents monitored by the General Traffic Department in recent years are failure to give priority to other road users, sudden deviation, failure to leave sufficient distance and over speeding, noting that inattention due to using a mobile phone may be a common factor in all of these cases.

“Using the phone while driving distracts the driver's attention and increases the possibility of accidents, as it disrupts the ability to react quickly to avoid dangers. Many drivers do not realise that being busy using the phone and being distracted for a few seconds may result in a fatal accident which claims the driver’s life and lives of other innocent people,” he added.  

Road users have to adhere to traffic rules and avoid distraction while driving by using the phone for writing SMS or exploring social media, Al Mazrouei affirmed.