Motorists who jump a red light at an interchange with the new Dubai Tram project will be fined up to AED30,000 ($8,167), according to regulations laid down by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai.

Penalties of up to AED30,000 will be handed to drivers who cause an accident that leads to the death of one or more people, with the fine being no less than AED10,000.

The regulations, which aim to encourage high safety standards, also says the driver will be banned for at least 30 days and up to one year for the offence.

Crossing a red traffic light at the tramway intersection and causing a non-fatal accident will carry a fine of between AED5,000-15,000 and a ban of up to six months, news agency WAM said.

Crossing a red traffic light without causing an accident will be punishable with a fine of AED2,000-5,000 and a ban of up to three months.

The penalties are included in a resolution issued by Sheikh Hamdan to regulate the tram system "in order to provide citizens with a safe and convenient means of transportation".

The tram is expected to lift about 27,000 riders per day at the start of operations in 2014, and the ridership is bound to hit 66,000 riders per day by 2020.

Eight trams will operate in the initial phase, slated for November 2014, and are expected to lift about 3,500 passengers per hour per direction.

The tram will run for 20 hours a day from 5am until 1am helping to reduce the level of traffic that builds up along the roads around Dubai Marina and JBR.

The project was originally scheduled to be completed in 2011, but has been plagued by cash concerns in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Designed to stretch 14km along Al Sufouh Road, the tram is set to be the world’s first to run with ground power feeding the entire line, eliminating the need for overhead wires.

The first phase of the project will span 10.6km and cost AED4bn, and will see 11 of the network’s 17 stations open to the public.

On completion, the tram will link with the Dubai Metro at three stations along Sheikh Zayed Road and will also tie-up with the monorail on the Palm Jumeirah.