Mobile app tracking UAE speed cameras

The Director of Traffic Coordination at the Ministry of Interior Brigadier Ghaith Al Zaabi has issued a warning against the use of mobile apps and smartphone/tablet softwares that can tell motorists where speed cameras are set-up in a particular area.

Speaking to Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, Al Zaabi said the use of such technical programmes through smart phones will only encourage violation of traffic laws and breaking of speed limits by reckless driving.

“This leads to serious traffic accidents and threatens the lives of drivers,” he said.

A motorist quoted by the report on the condition of anonymity said, “There is a growing demand from drivers, especially young people, to use these programs/apps on mobile phones and tablet, as it alerts them while driving to the whereabouts of the radar speed cameras and red lights before approaching them.

“The programs/apps rely primarily on GPS systems and can be downloaded to smartphones for free,” the user said.

Another user quoted in the report says some apps also come with audio alarms as an early warning system to alert the driver to a location of a speed radar.

Al Zaabi clarified that there is no clear violation in terms of a criminal offense for knowing the locations of radars on the roads.

According to statistics at the General Directorate of Coordination of Traffic in the Interior Ministry, speed offenses accounted for 76 per cent of the total traffic offenses in 2011.