Motorists attempting to conceal their mobile phone use behind tinted windows while driving should reconsider their tactics. Authorities are now employing sophisticated cameras to identify various road safety violations, including seat belt non-compliance and mobile phone usage, even through heavily tinted windshields.
Maj-Gen Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, revealed on Friday that advanced smart traffic cameras have recently uncovered severe instances of distracted driving. 'In one case, a driver was caught using two phones simultaneously while driving, while another was observed reading a newspaper, obstructing her view of the road,' he elaborated.
Al Mazrouei emphasized: 'The advanced systems are engineered to detect multiple violations, such as seat belt non-use, mobile phone usage, and other distractions from the road. Notably, they can capture these violations even if the vehicle’s windshield is tinted.' He also reminded drivers that vehicles could be impounded for up to 30 days for multiple traffic offenses, including mobile phone use while driving, tailgating, and sudden deviation. This impoundment would be in addition to fines ranging from Dh400 to Dh1,000 and four black points for these offenses.
Youssef Al Hansali, CEO of Vitronic Machine Vision, explained to Khaleej Times: 'The smart camera system can detect if a motorist is using a mobile phone through advanced photo technology combined with artificial intelligence.' He added, 'A front-facing photo of the violating motorist is captured and processed by UAE authorities for further action. It’s crucial to understand that the system operates effectively from the front, but also from the side angle, and can even penetrate tinted car windows.' Al Hansali’s company has installed a range of cutting-edge enforcement systems in the UAE.
He noted that the country has seen a rapid deployment of various smart traffic enforcement technologies in recent years, including front and rear speed cameras, mobile phone and seat belt detecting cameras, and cameras used to monitor safe distance, lane discipline, and red light violations. Additionally, cameras can be utilized for traffic management solutions such as city tolling, optimizing traffic flow, and gathering data for infrastructure development.
Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of Road Safety UAE, previously stated: 'Those texting while driving are 20 times more likely to be involved in a crash.' He emphasized that distracted driving, particularly due to mobile phone use, is the leading cause of accidents on the roads. Abu Dhabi Police have repeatedly warned drivers about the hazards of distraction caused by phone use, which can lead to severe traffic accidents.
Authorities assert that the use of smart technologies aligns with their goal of making the country a global leader in traffic safety by reducing road accident fatalities, but they stress the need for motorists to cooperate by adhering to all road safety regulations.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
