Dubai has introduced new, stricter penalties for distracted driving, including a 30-day vehicle impoundment for drivers caught using mobile phones or engaging in other distracting behaviors behind the wheel.
These measures, which aim to enhance road safety, reflect Dubai’s ongoing efforts to curb reckless driving and reduce traffic accidents.
Under the revised regulations, the Dubai Police will now impound vehicles for 30 days for offenses such as using mobile phones while driving, tailgating, and making sudden lane deviations. Previously, these offenses carried fines ranging from Dh400 to Dh1,000 and up to four black points on the driver’s record.
With this new law, vehicle impounding in Dubai adds another layer of consequence for distracted driving penalties.
Dubai’s move to enforce harsher penalties for mobile phone driving laws is not new. Last year, authorities imposed a Dh50,000 fee to release impounded vehicles for serious traffic offenses, such as reckless driving and jumping red lights. According to reports, reckless driving caused 94 accidents in the first half of 2024 alone, highlighting the urgent need for more stringent rules.
Experts in road safety advocate for these measures, emphasizing that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents globally. A recent survey by RoadSafetyUAE revealed that while 90% of drivers believe distracted driving is dangerous, only 81% admit to consistently paying full attention to the road. This inconsistency in driver behavior continues to pose a significant risk.
