By Staff

Motorists eating while driving will be fined up to Dh1,000 and have 12 black points added to their traffic record under a new federal traffic law to be enforced in the UAE as part of a police campaign to curb road accidents, a senior police officer was quoted on Sunday as saying.

Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, Assistant Police Commander-in-Chief for Operations in Dubai, said the new offences also include having drinks, applying make-up, reading papers, and using the mobile phone while driving.

He said police would be authorised to fine offending drivers who are involved in such offences, adding that the offence and the fine would be determined by the policeman.

“All these offences will be classified under one offence involving failure by the drivers to concentrate on the road by getting busy with other things,” he told Al Bayan daily.

“The new law also involves impounding the offender’s car if it is proved that the offence endangered human lives,” he added.

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