There is a reason why Dubai stands out as one of the best cities to be in whether it is for work or life. One of the aspects about everyday living that differs significantly here are the traffic laws.
There is a reason why Dubai stands out as one of the best cities to be in whether it is for work or life. One of the aspects about everyday living that differs significantly here are the traffic laws. The laws reflect rigorous penalties, use of advanced monitoring systems and zero tolerance for non-adherence.
In today's blog, we are going to review different aspects of traffic laws in Dubai and discover how different it is from the laws in leading countries like the United States of America, United Kingdom, and India. Let’s start.
1 - Speeding Limits
Dubai: The radar systems in Dubai make it nearly impossible for you to get off the hook with overspeeding. The speeding limits in the city for urban roads range from 6-80 kms/hrs while the limits on the highways allow a range of 100-120 kms/hr. A couple of roads allow a 20 kms/hrs buffer, increasing the speed limit to 100-140 kms/hours.
US: The speed limits differ across states. However, the speeding limit ranges from an urban low of 40 kms/hrs to rural highs of 137 km/hrs. The highest speed limit of 137 km/h is only found in Texas.
UK: The UK speeding limits depend on the kind of road it is. Typically, motorways and dual carriages are at 113 km/h, single carriages at 97 km/h, and built up areas are at 48 km/hr.
India: The maximum speed limit on urban roads in India is 70 km/h while that on a highway is 100 km/h. Furthermore, the highest speed limit on the interstate is at 120 km/h.
China: Expressways in mainland China are maxed out at 120 km/hr while semi-expressway and city express routes have lower speed limits of 100 km/h. In some areas, the speed limits further drop to 40 km/hr. Generally, the speed for city roads is 60-50 km/hr.
2 - Parking Arrangements
Dubai: Parking arrangements in Dubai are meticulously organized. The zones are classified into Zone A, B, C, so on and so forth until Zone I. Each zone has its own parking fees system based on the parking duration. Moreover, each parking zone is divided into commercial, non-commercial, and special areas. Special areas are found in areas like Downtown Dubai, TECOM, and Deira Fish Market.
US: The US primarily works on metered parking and residential permits. Usually suburban areas are unrestricted except town centres. In some places, parking is restricted to certain hours. Similarly, during winters, some streets are marked as 'snow streets’ which means you cannot park on the street when the snowfall exceeds a specific depth. Furthermore, parking restrictions are color coded and displayed on the curb.
UK: Parking arrangements in the UK can be decoded by yellow lines and parking bays. There are dedicated parking bays, marked by a large white ‘P’ on a blue background. Furthermore, double yellow lines means parking and waiting are not allowed at any time. A single yellow line means no parking, waiting or unloading at the times mentioned on the signage. In some cases red lines are used instead of yellow lines. Furthermore, parking may be reserved for specific types of vehicles, like that of a doctor or an ambulance. You may also find dedicated space for electric vehicles.
India: India, on the contrary, offers different types of parking. These include on the street, off the street and parallel parking. There are also reserved parking areas.
3 - Running Red Lights
Dubai: The penalty for running red lights in Dubai results in a fine of AED 1,000, 12 black points, and vehicle confiscation for 30 days.
US: Fines vary by the state and range from $50 to $500. Additionally, you may get points on your license, ranging from 2 to 4. These points typically remain on record for three to five days. Furthermore, you may have to appear in court based on violation and the jurisdiction.
UK: The penalty for running red lights in the UK entails 3 points plus a level 3 fine which is assessed at 25% to 75% of your net weekly income. It may come up to £1,000. However, if you have endangered other people, you may receive between 3 to 9 penalty points on your licence, plus an unlimited fine.
India: The penalty for running red lights in India varies from INR 500 to INR 5000. In severe cases, an additional penalty of 6 months of imprisonment may be applicable.
4 - Overspeeding
Dubai: Overspeeding penalties in Dubai depend on the speed you were caught at. Here’s the breakdown of the fine:
Exceeding by 80 km/h or more: AED 3000 + 23 black points + vehicle and license confiscation for 60 days [possible]
Driving over 60 km/h above the limit: AED 3000 + 12 black points + vehicle confiscation for 30 days.
Exceeding by less than 60 km/h: AED 1500 + 6 black points + vehicle impounding (15 days).
Driving below 50 km/h under the limit: AED 1000.
Exceeding by less than 40 km/h: AED 700.
Exceeding by less than 30 km/h: AED 600.
Driving below 20 km/h under the limit: AED 300.
US Penalties in the US depend on the kind of speed limit you have violated. There are three brackets — "absolute," "presumed," and "basic" speed limits. Based on the violation, penalties may range from a fee of $50 to $2,500 and or license revocation/suspension.
UK: The minimum penalty for overspeeding is £100 fine and 3 penalty points added to your license. If you plead guilty, the fine is liable. However, if you plead not guilty, you will have to go to court. If you are found guilty by the court, then the penalty amount is the percentage of your weekly income, up to a maximum of £1,000 (£2,500 if you were driving on a motorway).
India: Overspeeding in India results in a fine ranging from INR 1000 to INR 4000, depending on the type of the vehicle. In case of a second time or repeat offence, your license may be impounded.
Conclusions
Although many countries enforce similar laws, Dubai excels in the manner in which it enforces the law. There is zero tolerance for breaking the rules. The penalties are rigorous, ensuring that individuals do not repeat the offence. Unlike some countries where laws are upheld poorly, Dubai sticks to its traffic laws strongly.