The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has announced motorists caught taking a selfie while driving will incur an AED800 fine and four black points.
“Reaction times for drivers using a phone are around 50 per cent slower than normal undistracted driving,” stated the RTA.
“A driver taking a selfie or photo for approximately two seconds is like driving the length for nearly half a football field. Remember, using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is a traffic violation punishable by AED800 and four black points.” the RTA added.
The announcement is part of the RTA’s efforts to spread the message of safe driving across the Emirates and comes only a few days after Abu Dhabi Police announced a fine for any motorist caught taking a picture of rain while behind the wheel.
Road safety experts also issued a statement regarding the use of a mobile device to call or send messages while driving as it can delay the driver’s response time and increase the likelihood of an accident by 280 per cent.
