Dubai registers 670 drunk driving cases in 2020

Dubai registers 670 drunk driving cases in 2020

Dubai Traffic Prosecution registered 670 cases against motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol in 2020, down 38 per cent from 1,080 in 2019, an official revealed.

Officials also booked 94 cases against drivers for being under the influence of drugs last year – down from 108 cases the previous year, revealed Salah Al Falasi, head of Dubai Traffic Prosecution.

Under the UAE's traffic law, a person driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or any other narcotic substance can face imprisonment and/or a minimum fine of Dhs25,000. The court may also decide to take away the driving licence for a period of between three months and two years and also deny the driver the right to renew the licence after its expiry.

Overall, the Dubai Traffic Prosecution recorded a 41 per cent year-on-year decline in the number of traffic cases in 2020.

“Dubai Traffic Prosecution dealt with 7,287 traffic cases last year, including 58 that involved road deaths, compared with 12,385 the year before, with 82 of them involving traffic deaths,” he said.

“We will not tolerate drivers violating traffic laws and we will seek the toughest punishment against them,” said Al Falasi.

While 38 drivers were faced with charges