Lesser Known Driving Offences in Dubai
Following traffic rules not only ensure your safety but can also save you from paying fines and penalties. The driving experience in Dubai is smooth since you can find well-structured and traffic-free roads. Therefore, Dubai police have imposed some strict laws and regulations to maintain the flow of traffic. Since there is a long list of traffic rules in Dubai, we have compiled a list of some of the lesser known driving offences in Dubai that you must be aware of.
10 Lesser Known Driving Offences in Dubai
Following are ten lesser known driving offences in Dubai that you must keep in mind before you take your vehicle on road.
Parking on Special Needs Space or in Front of Fire Hydrants
Finding free car parking isn’t really difficult in Dubai. There are around 166,000 parking spaces across the city where you can park your vehicle for free or by paying some amount on weekends. Drivers who parked their vehicle in a special needs space or in front of fire hydrants will be charged with:
- Fine: AED 1,000
- Black points: 6
Also, parking in the wrong way or blocking other cars could land you AED 500 fines.
Throwing Waste Out of Vehicles
Throwing tissue papers, wrappers or other litter out of your car’s window is illegal as per the UAE’s Federal Traffic Law. This act can cost a driver AED 1,000 fine and 6 black points on the driving licence.
- Fine: AED 1,000
- Black points: 6
Driving Without Lights at Night or in Foggy Weather
Driving without headlights can be dangerous for you as well as for other drivers and pedestrians on the road. Therefore, it is important to keep your vehicle’s headlight in better condition. If you are found driving without headlights in Dubai, you will have to pay AED 500 fine and 4 black points will be imposed on your licence. If you notice that your car’s headlights aren’t working fine, change them immediately. You can buy a range of car lights for sale in Dubai at reasonable rates.
- Fine: AED 500
- Black points: 4
Changing Car Colour Without Permission
One of the most common lesser known driving offences in Dubai is changing car colour without permission. If you are planning to change your vehicle’s colour, then don’t forget to take permission from the authorities. You need to obtain approval from authorities and register the change vehicle colour with the RTA. However, if you have changed your vehicle’s colour without obtaining permission from the authorities, then be ready to pay AED 800 as a penalty in Dubai. However, you won’t be charged with black points.
- Fine: AED 800
- Black points: No
Driving With Expired Tyre
Driving with worn-out tyres can be life-threatening; which is why it is essential to maintain your car tyres during summers. However, if a motorist is caught using worn out or expired car tyres in Dubai must pay hefty fines and penalties. The fine for using expired tyres in Dubai is AED 500 along with 4 black points. Besides, your vehicle will also be confiscated for 7 days.
- Fine: AED 500
- Black points: 6
You can check tyre tread depth to determine its expiry. In case your vehicle needs tyre replacement, then check out dubizzle to explore a vast variety of car tyres for sale in Dubai.
Reversing Dangerously
It is essential to make sure that you are not knocking or hitting someone’s property before reversing a vehicle. Those who are found guilty while reversing their vehicle carelessly will be charged with four black points. Also, the fine for reversing carelessly in Dubai is AED 500 fine; thus, whether you are using a rear-view camera, back camera or parking sensor make sure you reverse the car with utmost care.
Driving a Noisy Vehicle
Driving a car that makes too much noise can divert the attention of other drivers on the road; therefore, a motorist can face hefty fines for driving a noisy car in Dubai. The fine for driving a noisy car in Dubai is AED 2,000 along with 12 black points. However, if your vehicle makes too much noise then get it changed and buy a good condition used car in Dubai at a reasonable price range.
- Fine: AED 2,000
- Black points: 12
Overtaking From the Hard Shoulder
A hard shoulder is a narrow lane that allows drivers to stop their vehicles in case of an emergency. Therefore, overtaking from hard shoulder driving is prohibited and holds serious fines and penalties. The offender will be fined AED 1,000 fine and 6 black points.
- Fine: AED 1,000
- Black points: 6
Failure To Give Passage to Emergency Vehicles or Official Envoys
Motorists who fail to give passage to ambulances, fire trucks and police will face hefty fines in Dubai. The rule is made to ensure that these emergency vehicles don’t face delays in reaching accident or fire scenes. The fine of this violation is AED 3,000 along with a vehicle confiscation for a month. Besides, you will also receive 6 black points.
- Fine: AED 3,000
- Black points: 6
Modifying Car Without Permission
According to the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA), vehicle owners must take permission and approval to modify the engine and the parts they want to get altered. The rule was passed in 2017 to minimise distracting noise and reduce harmful vehicle emissions. Some of the changes that are considered as modifications include:
- Changing the order of seats
- Installation of high-performance brake
- Updating the main engine
- Installing internal entertainment sound system
- Change in vehicle’s engine ignition and radiation
- Replacing tyres
However, those who update the car without abiding by the law will have to pay AED 1,000 fine along with 12 traffic black points.
- Fine: AED 1,000
- Black points: 12
These are some of the least known driving offences in Dubai. You can check a complete list of traffic fines in Dubai to avoid penalties in future. Moreover, As per Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, if a driver accumulates 24 black points, their licence will be revoked or banned for a year. Thus, keep a check on black points before you reach the maximum limit.
If you find this guide informative, stay tuned to the UAE’s leading auto blog for more.