Dubai Police to Install 'Silent Radars' to Monitor Traffic Violations in Residential Areas

Dubai Police have announced the installation of 'silent radars' across residential neighbourhoods. These radars are described as 'silent' because they do not flash like traditional speed cameras.

These devices aim to detect more than just speeding violations, encouraging drivers to follow safety practices such as wearing seatbelts and refraining from using mobile phones, a senior official was quoted as saying in a Khaleej Times report.

Some residents use mobile phones or neglect to buckle up while driving within their communities for quick errands. However, traffic laws apply even in residential areas.

Failing to fasten your seatbelt can result in a Dh400 fine and 4 black points, while using a hand-held phone while driving can incur a Dh800 fine and 4 black points.

The exact timeline for the installation of these silent radars has not been disclosed. Authorities assured that behavioural fines are thoroughly reviewed before being issued.

Salma Mohammed Rashed Almarri, Head of the Traffic Awareness Section, stated, "Dubai Police officers always double-check fines using video footage before issuing them, especially for behavioural violations like holding phones and not fastening seatbelts."

Hassan Ali Taleb Alhamer from the Traffic Technology Department explained that Dubai has various types of radars. “Many people think they only detect speeding, but they also catch illegal U-turns and other traffic violations.”

According to a Dubai Police officer, the Emirates' roads are equipped with advanced traffic control technologies that detect mobile phone usage while driving and seatbelt violations, among others.

The radars installed on Dubai roads can monitor six main lanes on a highway, in addition to two side lanes. They can read licence plates and identify if they are obscured or hidden.

These high-tech devices can detect speeding and other violations even if a vehicle is partially obscured by another.

Officer Salma emphasised that motorists in Dubai must come to a complete stop at pedestrian crossings and wait until the pedestrian has fully crossed. Failing to do so is punishable by a Dh500 fine.

Dubai Police Command Control Centre

Dubai's roads are monitored not only by these advanced radars but also by large screens inside the Dubai Police Command Control Centre.

Major Mohammed Shahriyar Alblooshi, Assistant Director of the Command Control Centre, explained: "From the Dubai Police Command Centre, we can check via cameras if there's any traffic on the road, identify causes of traffic, and send police patrols to assist drivers and manage situations."

Captain Majid Al Qassim, Head of Specialised Operations, added: "We monitor all the roads from this room." As the screen showed two RTA buses obstructing the road, the police patrol was seen reaching the scene, guiding other motorists to change lanes, and helping bus passengers transfer to another bus.

"We have multiple assets distributed around Dubai, such as ambulances and patrols ready to be dispatched in cases of emergency," he said.

Moreover, the Dubai Police Awareness Department has been actively educating drivers about the importance of maintaining a safe following distance, with fines of up to Dh400 for violations.

The authority has stressed that the goal of these advanced systems is not just about issuing fines, but rather keeping roads safe for all.

The police acknowledged that many drivers are aware of the location of these radars and tend to slow down accordingly. However, the primary concern is maintaining a consistent and safe driving speed, rather than catching drivers in the act of speeding.