6 traffic fines to watch out for in UAE during Ramadan

With Ramadan quickly approaching, those of us in the UAE are mentally preparing for the abnormal traffic jams and less-than-optimal driving behaviors that are witnessed during the holy month. While we understand the urge to get home quickly after a long day of fasting, or to make it to that Iftar buffet you’ve been dreaming about all day - that doesn’t excuse reckless behavior on the roads 🙄. 

And incase you needed another incentive to be on your best driving behavior during Ramadan, here are 6 traffic violations that could cause up to an AED 50,000 dent in your bank account: 

1. Texting while driving 🤳

Or using your phone in general while on the road. This is probably one of the most obvious ones, but did you know that it could earn you an AED 800 fine + 4 black points? So the next time you’re tempted to pick up your phone while on the road, really assess if that text is worth AED 800. We know you might get bored in those long Ramadan traffic jams, but that’s no reason to endanger yourself and others on the road through distracted driving. 

2. Littering 🗑

Is there anything more ironic than littering *during* Ramadan, when one of the Islamic teachings stipulates that “removing harmful things from the road is an act of charity” ? Besides common decency, this could earn you up to an AED 1,000 fine + 6 black points. So it’s a lose-lose situation for yourself, your wallet, and for the environment. 

3. Jaywalking 🚶🏻‍♀️

Just. Don’t. Do it. We live in a country where there are crosswalks literally everywhere. So if there’s no crosswalk, it’s probably not in your best interest to cross the road at that particular spot. You’re endangering your own life + the lives of others, and can rack up an AED 400 fine too. 

4. Crossing a red light 🚦

One of the worst traffic violations there is, and for good reason. Jumping a red light can not only lead to pedestrian deaths, but is also the culprit behind some of the worst vehicle collisions. Doing this in UAE is not taken lightly, and will earn you an AED 1,000 fine, 12 black points, and vehicle confiscation lasting an entire month. And for those in Abu Dhabi, you may be required to pay up to AED 50,000 to get your vehicle back. Just wait those extra few minutes at the red light, your Iftar is not going anywhere.

5. Endangering civilians 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

An AED 2,000 fine, 23 black points, and a 2 month vehicle confiscation. This traffic violation is left quite vague, and for good reason. Just don’t do anything that could endanger the lives of pedestrians or other drivers, be it texting while driving, speeding, or driving recklessly in general.

6. Driving an uninsured car 🚗

Driving a vehicle without insurance will lead to an AED 500 fine, 4 black points and week-long confiscation of the vehicle. We know that running errands like registering your car or insuring it doesn't sound appealing during Ramadan, so why not do it fully online and in a few minutes 😉? Instead of paying AED 500 in fines, use that to cover a portion of your insurance policy with *ahem*, Beema. Our car insurance policies are budget-friendly, easily purchased & managed online, and come with cash-back options too. Win-win!

And for those who believe that they’re responsible drivers, or who simply want to monitor how safely they’ve been driving during Ramadan to improve certain areas, make sure to check out Beema SmartDriver! Beema SmartDriver is an exclusive car insurance option that rewards you for safe driving behavior through the Beema app. Although fines are necessary to deter traffic violations and ensure road safety, we believe the opposite should be true, too. Responsible drivers should be rewarded - and that’s where Beema SmartDriver comes in. Click here to learn more about how you can get rewarded and contribute to improving road-safety with Beema SmartDriver.

Happy (& safe) driving!