The number of traffic fines issued by Dubai Police almost doubled to 113,000 last month, up from 67,000 in August.
Police issued 70 per cent more speeding tickets – up from 20,000 in August to 34,000 in September – while fines for “reckless backwards driving” increased by a quarter, from 2,000 in August to 2,646 in September.
Most of the speeding fines – more than 27,000 tickets – were given to drivers who exceeded the speed limit by more than 20kph but less than 30kph.
Police gave no reason for the increases, but traffic offences often dip in the summer.
Last month when The National reported on the increase in ‘backwards driving’, Maj Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zaffin, head of the traffic department, said: “Many people carrying out such offences seem to be negligent and not concerned with adhering to rules even if it means that they are endangering their own and other people’s lives.”
Maj Gen Al Zaffin said he feared such casual flouting of basic rules of the road appeared to be on the increase and was the main contributing factor to accidents.
He urged the public to report such offences by calling the “We are all police” free hotline, 8004353.
