Dubai has introduced stricter penalties for distracted driving, including a 30-day vehicle impoundment for drivers caught using mobile phones or engaging in other distracting behaviours while driving. These measures, aimed at enhancing road safety, reflect Dubai’s ongoing efforts to curb reckless driving and reduce traffic accidents.
Under the revised regulations, Dubai Police will now impound vehicles for 30 days for offences such as using mobile phones while driving, tailgating, and making sudden lane deviations. Previously, these offences carried fines ranging from Dh400 to Dh1,000 and up to four black points on the driver’s record.
With this new law, vehicle impoundment 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 offences such as reckless driving and jumping red lights. Reports indicate that reckless driving caused 94 accidents in the first half of 2024 alone, underscoring the urgent need for more stringent rules.
Road safety experts advocate for these measures, stressing that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents globally. A recent survey by RoadSafetyUAE found that while 90% of drivers believe distracted driving is dangerous, only 81% consistently pay full attention to the road. This discrepancy in driver behaviour remains a significant risk.
