If it was fully implemented, violations would double

Assistant Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police for Operations Affairs, Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, confirmed that modern control systems enhanced with artificial intelligence do not monitor traffic violations in isolation from supervision and verification, but rather rely on various shots and different overhead photography angles, to ensure the clarity of the violation and confirm the circumstances of its registration, and that the driver was not forced to commit it.

He told Emirates Today in response to inquiries from a number of its readers: “Many do not realize that activating all the systems owned by Dubai Police may lead to arresting many times the violations actually recorded, but the philosophy of Dubai Police is to deter and arrest reckless people and not just collect money. There are violations, for example, that the driver continues to commit over a long distance, such as using a mobile phone and being monitored by various cameras or control devices, but only one violation is recorded for him to alert him to the seriousness of this behavior. And to deter him from repeating it.”

Al Mazrouei revealed that Dubai Police was keen to facilitate channels for objection to traffic violations, by adding a window through its smart application and website to re-audit and document, stressing its keenness for people to drive reassured, and have space to enjoy the beauty of the emirate, while adhering to traffic laws and without feeling that there is monitoring for their violation.

In detail, drivers through “Emirates Today” asked about the other side of the expansion of the use of smart control technologies that rely entirely on cameras and analysis by artificial intelligence algorithms, pointing out that these systems leave no room for assessing humanitarian conditions or emergency matters, which does not allow room for applying the “spirit of the law,” especially in light of the costly fines resulting from traffic violations.

One of the drivers said that he was driving his car on Al Wasl Road in Dubai late at night after leaving work, and he took this road to avoid crossing the Salik gates as a way of saving, but he did not imagine that he would pay double the cost of Salik, as he was surprised by a notice from the Dubai Police stating that he had committed a violation of not using the signal when moving from one lane to another.

Another stated that he received a notice of committing a violation for using a mobile phone while driving, and in light of his always being careful to secure it in a holder and not holding it in his hand, he was surprised by the violation, and when he checked it, he was surprised by the picture showing that he had touched the phone while it was on the holder.

He added that the fine for this violation amounts to 800 dirhams, in addition to four “black” traffic points recorded on his licence, expressing his belief that the smart technology that was used to monitor the violation may not have distinguished between his actual preoccupation with the phone, and an attempt to touch it to accept a call or another procedure, while a third stated that two speeding tickets were recorded against him on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, with a time difference of no more than one minute, even though he was driving three kilometers slower than the speed. prescribed for the road, indicating that he has to pay two fines worth 1,200 dirhams for what he considers to be one violation.

In addition, drivers said that treatment sometimes varies from one policeman to another, as well as each one’s assessment of the circumstances of the perpetrator of the violation. Some of them tolerate it if the driver was unintentional or was exposed to an emergency situation that led him to commit the violation, while other policemen do not respect the spirit of the law.

They stressed that they realize the importance of enforcing the law, but it is also necessary to take into account the circumstances. One of them mentioned that a policeman stopped him because the vehicle’s lights were not turned on at a time when darkness was about to fall, and insisted on issuing a ticket to him, while another policeman was more understanding and only warned him to turn on the vehicle’s lights without disobeying him.

For his part, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police for Operations Affairs, Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, said that Dubai Police is keen to communicate with the public and receive their inquiries or even object to violations, and has even provided easier channels for objection through its smart application and website.

During a tour of the smart operations room and viewing the advanced screens covering all roads in the Emirate of Dubai, he explained to Emirates Today the Dubai Police’s philosophy in dealing with traffic violations, and readers’ questions about the accuracy of modern systems, and the limits of human judgment.

He stressed that the goal of the traffic system in Dubai is not to collect fines, but rather to protect lives and spread awareness, pointing out that he understands drivers’ questions about whether the technical systems are rigid and do not take into account emergency circumstances, or whether there is room for discretion, as a traffic policeman does on the ground.

Al Mazrouei explained that modern systems do not operate in isolation from oversight and verification. In some violations, such as sudden deviation or failure to fasten a seat belt, the system is not satisfied with one image, but rather relies on multiple shots and different panoramic photography angles (Over View), ensuring the clarity of the violation before recording it.

He revealed that Sheikh Zayed Road, which extends a long distance of up to 70 kilometers between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, includes dozens of radar devices to measure speed, in addition to hundreds of cameras to monitor traffic behavior. If all systems were activated strictly and simultaneously, the violating driver may be exposed to several violations within a few minutes, which is not in line with the gradual awareness philosophy followed by Dubai Police.

He continued that Dubai Police is part of a city that is dear to the souls of its residents and visitors, and realizes that they love to enjoy the beautiful scenery in the streets while driving, so they are careful not to spoil this enjoyment by violating them, but the problem remains in behaviors that cannot be tolerated, because they lead to dangerous consequences and serious traffic accidents.

He explained that the Dubai Police have advanced systems that are superior to their counterparts in most developed countries, but they are not as stringent as other cities in tracking drivers, noting that, for example, many countries implement a system for measuring the average speed between the points separating one radar from another, in light of the fact that there are drivers who slow down their speed only when approaching the radar, and then resume acceleration as soon as they pass it.

He stated that this system had been tested and confirmed for its effectiveness and accuracy, but Dubai Police decided not to activate it to avoid any confusion among road users, stressing that the goal is not to arrest drivers who deliberately drive in this way, but rather to modify their behavior along the road.

He added that current technologies are capable of monitoring violations such as crossing the broken line incorrectly or changing the lane in a dangerous way, especially with the presence of overhead cameras documenting the entire scene, stressing that what everyone must realize is the Dubai Police’s keenness to implement the law to deter and raise awareness, and if the systems it possesses were implemented to their full potential, it would record many times more violations than are recorded annually.

Regarding a driver’s complaint about recording two speeding violations with a slight difference from two successive radars, Al Mazrouei pointed out that the distance between the radar devices on various highways can be exceeded in less than a minute depending on the speed of the car, and therefore it is possible that the violating person will be monitored by more than one radar if he continues to exceed the speed limit for the road.

Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei said that there is an additional important aspect of the advanced traffic control system in the emirate, which is providing protection for committed drivers, who represent the majority of the reckless group, and whose members sometimes behave with a kind of display and condescension, such as people who deliberately overtake others at exits and intersections, committing the violation of not adhering to the mandatory lane.

He added that the deployment of traffic control devices equipped with advanced cameras at these intersections has provided a great deal of deterrence for these drivers, and it is no longer possible for someone to violate the traffic rights of others just because he is reckless or owns a large car. He pointed out that this type of violation causes psychological harm to the person who is subjected to condescension or violation of his rights by others on the road. Regarding the disparity in dealing from one policeman to another, Al Mazrouei explained that the cadres of the General Traffic Department in Dubai Police receive almost daily instructions on the best ways to deal with members of the public, so spontaneous situations are repeated from policemen providing assistance that is not related to their job to people in need, pointing out that serving people and facilitating their affairs is an integral pillar of the police doctrine, but law enforcement remains discretionary in some cases, and in the end there is no previous relationship between the policeman and the violating person, and therefore it cannot be There are motives for the former’s behavior other than implementing what he deems appropriate by virtue of his job.

Al Mazrouei concluded by stressing that the traffic system in Dubai is an integrated system, balancing between technology and human control, and between deterrence and awareness, stressing that the ultimate goal remains the same, which is safer roads and more committed traffic behavior, which saves lives before anything else.

Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei:

• The Dubai Police philosophy is to deter, control reckless people, and protect lives and property, not just collect money.

• We have advanced systems that are superior to those in most developed countries, but Dubai is not as strict as other cities in tracking drivers.

• Dubai Police has facilitated channels for objection to traffic violations by adding a window through its smart application and website for re-auditing and documentation.