UAE slaps stiff fine, jail for drunken driving

Dubai, Mar 2 (UNI) Stiff penalties including possible jail term and a fine of upto 20,000 dirham (Rs two lakh) have been imposed on drunk drivers in the UAE in a move to check increasing number of accidents.

Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director, Dubai Traffic Department, told WAM news agency that as per the new laws, a black point system for traffic offences has been implemented across all the emirates aiming to cut down the number of deaths due to traffic accidents.

Last year alone, 1,056 people lost their lives in road accidents in the UAE.

As the law became effective all over the country, Dubai Police's Traffic Department yesterday started implementing it in the emirate also.

Dubai Police's Traffic Department has intensified patrols and implemented strict penalties.

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