It seems that Dubai police are about to follow some other emirates and offer discounts on traffic offence fines.
I'm struggling to understand how that will help to improve the standard of driving.
Gulf News has the report here.
Showing posts with label police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label police. Show all posts
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Monday, May 24, 2010
'Arrested'. But now what?
The story in my last two posts goes on.
According to Arabian Business, the drivers involved in the crass stupidity have been arrested by Dubai Police and the vehicles impounded.
It's a start, now we'll have to wait to see how justice is applied.
As I said in the earlier posts, I think it deserves nothing less than a life ban on owning or driving vehicles plus a lengthy jail term for deliberately endangering life.
But I don't for one moment think that's going to happen.
And apart from the the drivers doing the stunts there was a convoy of hangers-on accompanying them, cheering them on and filming them. They need to be arrested too, charged with aiding and abetting the offences.
What the eventual outcome will demonstrate is just how serious the authorities are about stamping down on dangerous, irresponsible driving and in promoting road safety.
So far it seems to have been a half-hearted campaign without much successs, a couple of weeks emphasis here and there on specific things such as tailgating, child seats or mobile phone use. I've seen no reduction in any of those offences, in fact with mobile phone use it seems to me to be on the increase.
So this will be an interesting one to follow because it's such a serious, deliberate flouting of the laws that could have had disastrous consequences for innocent drivers caught up in the lunacy.
The Arabian Business report is basic and short on any detail, but they say the police have promised a full statement shortly. What they have is here.
According to Arabian Business, the drivers involved in the crass stupidity have been arrested by Dubai Police and the vehicles impounded.
It's a start, now we'll have to wait to see how justice is applied.
As I said in the earlier posts, I think it deserves nothing less than a life ban on owning or driving vehicles plus a lengthy jail term for deliberately endangering life.
But I don't for one moment think that's going to happen.
And apart from the the drivers doing the stunts there was a convoy of hangers-on accompanying them, cheering them on and filming them. They need to be arrested too, charged with aiding and abetting the offences.
What the eventual outcome will demonstrate is just how serious the authorities are about stamping down on dangerous, irresponsible driving and in promoting road safety.
So far it seems to have been a half-hearted campaign without much successs, a couple of weeks emphasis here and there on specific things such as tailgating, child seats or mobile phone use. I've seen no reduction in any of those offences, in fact with mobile phone use it seems to me to be on the increase.
So this will be an interesting one to follow because it's such a serious, deliberate flouting of the laws that could have had disastrous consequences for innocent drivers caught up in the lunacy.
The Arabian Business report is basic and short on any detail, but they say the police have promised a full statement shortly. What they have is here.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Life threatening lunacy
There's a new film on YouTube showing innocent motorists' lives being endangered by a bunch of brainless morons.
On Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, a 4x4 and a pick-up doing stunts while other traffic is around them.
Some stills from it:
After you've watched the clip here you'll probably prefer to use the Metro rather than driving.
On Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, a 4x4 and a pick-up doing stunts while other traffic is around them.
Some stills from it:
Dubai Police are efficient enough to identify the Eastern European ram-raid gang and to get massive amounts of information on the hit squad that assassinated Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.
Identifying the idiots in the clip should take the police about five minutes.
Deliberately putting other people's lives at risk like this deserves a lifetime driving ban, a lifetime ban on owning a vehicle and a lengthy jail term. And I mean lengthy.
The obvious question is whether they'll be arrested. Cynics will doubt it and will talk about wasta...
Identifying the idiots in the clip should take the police about five minutes.
Deliberately putting other people's lives at risk like this deserves a lifetime driving ban, a lifetime ban on owning a vehicle and a lengthy jail term. And I mean lengthy.
The obvious question is whether they'll be arrested. Cynics will doubt it and will talk about wasta...
After you've watched the clip here you'll probably prefer to use the Metro rather than driving.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Codeine doesn't mean Al Slammer any more
You remember the over-enthusiastic enforcement of the drug laws at Dubai airport?
People were escorted to Al Slammer for carrying what in their countries was over-the-counter medication, or having poppy seeds in their clothing, or having minute specks of cannabis on their shoes.
I did some posts about them at the time, back in 2008 I think.
There was outrage in the western, especially British, media, plenty of online criticism and 'don't visit Dubai' websites appeared. It was a real blow to Brand Dubai and I think it might have been this issue that was the beginning of the negative stories.
This problem has quietened down recently, presumably partly because people coming in were much more careful, maybe others cancelled their trip, but also it appears because the authorities have been less heavy-handed recently.
A report in Gulf News suggests a more reasonable approach. It also says that the damage being done by the reports was taken seriously by the authorities.
Major General Abdul Jaleel Al Mahdi, Director of the General Department of Combating Narcotics at the Dubai Police told Gulf News that the increase in reports about passengers carrying medical pills without a prescription got them to change the earlier regulation.
The law is still in place but the way people are dealt with has been changed.
"I agree the previous regulation was somehow strict whereby passengers were extensively interrogated and in extremely few cases detained till the substance is examined," said Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Saleh Al Kawari, Deputy Director of the General Department of Combating Narcotics at Dubai Police.
"Now if the pills are not clear to us or do not include a prescription, then we hold the passengers' passport till they provide evidence and for us to examine the substance, which only takes less than couple of days."
I've mentioned on here over the last couple of days some of the most often asked questions on forums from people planning to come to Dubai. 'How much do I need to live on' is one, 'what's the weather like in (a month)' is another. The third is about OTC or prescription medicines.
The medication question came up again yesterday on a forum, showing that those reports are still having an effect.
What a pity the new more reasonable approach wasn't used in the past.
The Gulf News story is here.
People were escorted to Al Slammer for carrying what in their countries was over-the-counter medication, or having poppy seeds in their clothing, or having minute specks of cannabis on their shoes.
I did some posts about them at the time, back in 2008 I think.
There was outrage in the western, especially British, media, plenty of online criticism and 'don't visit Dubai' websites appeared. It was a real blow to Brand Dubai and I think it might have been this issue that was the beginning of the negative stories.
This problem has quietened down recently, presumably partly because people coming in were much more careful, maybe others cancelled their trip, but also it appears because the authorities have been less heavy-handed recently.
A report in Gulf News suggests a more reasonable approach. It also says that the damage being done by the reports was taken seriously by the authorities.
Major General Abdul Jaleel Al Mahdi, Director of the General Department of Combating Narcotics at the Dubai Police told Gulf News that the increase in reports about passengers carrying medical pills without a prescription got them to change the earlier regulation.
The law is still in place but the way people are dealt with has been changed.
"I agree the previous regulation was somehow strict whereby passengers were extensively interrogated and in extremely few cases detained till the substance is examined," said Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Saleh Al Kawari, Deputy Director of the General Department of Combating Narcotics at Dubai Police.
"Now if the pills are not clear to us or do not include a prescription, then we hold the passengers' passport till they provide evidence and for us to examine the substance, which only takes less than couple of days."
I've mentioned on here over the last couple of days some of the most often asked questions on forums from people planning to come to Dubai. 'How much do I need to live on' is one, 'what's the weather like in (a month)' is another. The third is about OTC or prescription medicines.
The medication question came up again yesterday on a forum, showing that those reports are still having an effect.
What a pity the new more reasonable approach wasn't used in the past.
The Gulf News story is here.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The end of another Dubai tradition?
A tradition we can actually do without is the one where motorists who have minor prangs and no injuries have to stand around in the sun and the dust waiting for a police patrol to arrive.
Without a written police report the insurance company won't pay up and workshops, officially, won't repair the damage.
According to Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of the Dubai Police Traffic Department, there is at least one minor traffic accident every three minutes in Dubai, and he says that each takes 10 to 15 minutes to resolve.
I think he's just quoting the time at the scene doing the paperwork and not including the time the police patrol takes to get to and from the incident.
One every three minutes is 480 a day and that's a huge amount of police time wasted when they could instead be patrolling to clamp down on inconsiderate and dangerous driving.
Now the Traffic Department has met with the Emirates Insurance Association to discuss the possibility of referring minor car accidents, which are not subject to dispute, directly to the insurance companies.
That happens in many other countries. The drivers involved exchange contact and insurance details, get a witness name and contact details if necessary and then go on their way. Later they complete an insurance claim form.
Brig. Al Zafein said that "99 per cent of minor accidents do not involve disputes" and the police really shouldn't have to waste time on them.
He says that if the proposal is approved, the Traffic Department will train insurance companies on how to deal with, examine and assess minor accidents.
I think there'll also need to be education of motorists because there are bound to be some, maybe many, who have no experience of the system from their home countries.
The story is in Gulf News, here.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Heavy handed policing
Gulf News carries a story today about a construction worker being detained by police and facing deportation.
He was apparently in a restaurant when a plainclothes police officer accused him of begging.
Here's what Kumar said he did:
"We had Dh1 for a Pepsi and wanted to buy another worker a drink. My friend asked me to get him Dh1 to buy a Pepsi. I asked one of our colleagues if he could lend us the money."
If that's true and the full story then arresting him, detaining him for days and putting him on trial really is way over the top.
Here's the story.
He was apparently in a restaurant when a plainclothes police officer accused him of begging.
Here's what Kumar said he did:
"We had Dh1 for a Pepsi and wanted to buy another worker a drink. My friend asked me to get him Dh1 to buy a Pepsi. I asked one of our colleagues if he could lend us the money."
If that's true and the full story then arresting him, detaining him for days and putting him on trial really is way over the top.
Here's the story.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Dubai news - good, bad and we coulda guessed it.
We coulda guessed it.
After the chaos caused by the ID registration system being launched before it was ready we're now told that the system is to be 'revamped'.
Late last year the Emirates ID Authority suddenly brought the deadline for registration forward, put an immovable deadline on it, nothing was ready, the website didn't work, there were few forms to be found anywhere, there weren't enough offices, only ten offices took appointments but even with them most applicants couldn't make one, the capacity to register the numbers in the time given was nowhere near sufficient.
Situation normal then, something major launched long before it was ready. It's not unusual, we often get it , Salik being another perfect example.
Panic, confusion, long queues, people wasting whole days unsuccesfully trying to register, complaints poured in to the media.
Inevitably we then had the usual clarifications which confused the issue even more, U-turns, backtracking, then changes to the previous adamant statements, such as the 'fined if you don't' scare.
Then they tried to fix the problems with the system which should have been fixed before it was launched. More capacity for the website and corrections to some of the mistakes on it, general availability of the registration forms, moving of the deadline.
Still chaos.
We could have predicted that some months later we'd be here with an announcement that the ID system is to be 'revamped'.
There's a new appointments system. There's an online tracking system for applications, to be launched within a month. There's a new application form, more user friendly with more guidelines. There's an increase in the number of offices offering appointments.
Get it right before you launch it? Not a hope. Thought, planning and administration conspicuous by their absence.
The details are in Gulf News' report here.
Then there's bad news which is another smack in the mouth for Dubai's vision of becoming a major international commercial centre.
You may know about the spat between Tecom and an American investor, Capital Partners, over a 38 acre plot of land in Internet City. The company sued Tecom for $1 billion, as reported here by the Financial Times. The dispute went to arbitration.
But now Reuters have released a story which says:
A U.S. private equity firm once hailed as a major foreign investor in Dubai says it has been shut down without warning following a dispute with the government of the Gulf Arab trade hub.
Managing Director Jonathan Wride is reported as saying: "Tecom stated that we no longer exist and thus are not entitled to wind up or liquidate, which is in direct conflict with Tecom's own regulations and UAE law.
"It is of critical ... importance that international companies can continue to operate in Dubai, safe in the knowledge that the UAE law will be upheld."
Ain't that the truth.
If this story gets wide coverage, as could well happen, it isn't going to do much for brand Dubai's reputation.
The full Reuters report is here.
But now to the good news, although I'm sceptical about it.
Police's Traffic Department will place traffic patrols on all the roads, with an average of one patrol every one to two kilometers as part of a new mechanism to reduce accidents.
Every one to two kilometres?
We need it, I wish it was true, but I really don't believe we have enough police officers to do it.
Maybe tomorrow we'll get a 'clarification' with a realistic figure, but it does at least indicate an increase in traffic police action.
That story is in Gulf News here.
After the chaos caused by the ID registration system being launched before it was ready we're now told that the system is to be 'revamped'.
Late last year the Emirates ID Authority suddenly brought the deadline for registration forward, put an immovable deadline on it, nothing was ready, the website didn't work, there were few forms to be found anywhere, there weren't enough offices, only ten offices took appointments but even with them most applicants couldn't make one, the capacity to register the numbers in the time given was nowhere near sufficient.
Situation normal then, something major launched long before it was ready. It's not unusual, we often get it , Salik being another perfect example.
Panic, confusion, long queues, people wasting whole days unsuccesfully trying to register, complaints poured in to the media.
Inevitably we then had the usual clarifications which confused the issue even more, U-turns, backtracking, then changes to the previous adamant statements, such as the 'fined if you don't' scare.
Then they tried to fix the problems with the system which should have been fixed before it was launched. More capacity for the website and corrections to some of the mistakes on it, general availability of the registration forms, moving of the deadline.
Still chaos.
We could have predicted that some months later we'd be here with an announcement that the ID system is to be 'revamped'.
There's a new appointments system. There's an online tracking system for applications, to be launched within a month. There's a new application form, more user friendly with more guidelines. There's an increase in the number of offices offering appointments.
Get it right before you launch it? Not a hope. Thought, planning and administration conspicuous by their absence.
The details are in Gulf News' report here.
Then there's bad news which is another smack in the mouth for Dubai's vision of becoming a major international commercial centre.
You may know about the spat between Tecom and an American investor, Capital Partners, over a 38 acre plot of land in Internet City. The company sued Tecom for $1 billion, as reported here by the Financial Times. The dispute went to arbitration.
But now Reuters have released a story which says:
A U.S. private equity firm once hailed as a major foreign investor in Dubai says it has been shut down without warning following a dispute with the government of the Gulf Arab trade hub.
Managing Director Jonathan Wride is reported as saying: "Tecom stated that we no longer exist and thus are not entitled to wind up or liquidate, which is in direct conflict with Tecom's own regulations and UAE law.
"It is of critical ... importance that international companies can continue to operate in Dubai, safe in the knowledge that the UAE law will be upheld."
Ain't that the truth.
If this story gets wide coverage, as could well happen, it isn't going to do much for brand Dubai's reputation.
The full Reuters report is here.
But now to the good news, although I'm sceptical about it.
Police's Traffic Department will place traffic patrols on all the roads, with an average of one patrol every one to two kilometers as part of a new mechanism to reduce accidents.
Every one to two kilometres?
We need it, I wish it was true, but I really don't believe we have enough police officers to do it.
Maybe tomorrow we'll get a 'clarification' with a realistic figure, but it does at least indicate an increase in traffic police action.
That story is in Gulf News here.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Park in the sewage...or be fined.
There's an added twist to the story of the sewage floods at International City, which I posted about yesterday.
According to a report in Gulf News, residents of England cluster who don't want to park in and wade through the sewage have been parking on roundabouts and pavements. Traffic police have apparently been giving them parking tickets them for doing so.
Technically I'm sure they're right, but a little understanding wouldn't go amiss would it.
The story is here.
According to a report in Gulf News, residents of England cluster who don't want to park in and wade through the sewage have been parking on roundabouts and pavements. Traffic police have apparently been giving them parking tickets them for doing so.
Technically I'm sure they're right, but a little understanding wouldn't go amiss would it.
The story is here.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Church security
At the weekend a reader e-mailed me about hightened security at St. Mary's Church.
"We were not allowed to park next to the church, and we had to be screened by guards with metal detectors (a la airport security)."
I'd seen nothing in the papers then, but yesterday there was a report in Gulf News about it.
Police are saying it's a 'routine security measure' and 'there is nothing to worry about' and I suppose it just could be, with Easter coming up.
It could also, of course, be that the authorities have received some intelligence that something untoward is planned.
One to watch.
Gulf News report is here.
"We were not allowed to park next to the church, and we had to be screened by guards with metal detectors (a la airport security)."
I'd seen nothing in the papers then, but yesterday there was a report in Gulf News about it.
Police are saying it's a 'routine security measure' and 'there is nothing to worry about' and I suppose it just could be, with Easter coming up.
It could also, of course, be that the authorities have received some intelligence that something untoward is planned.
One to watch.
Gulf News report is here.
The big crash - the fog dunnit.
"Fog and low visibility were identified as the main causes of the accident."
So says the story in Gulf News, reporting from Abu Dhbai Police's press conference.
The fog drove vehicles in to other vehicles. The fog was not paying attention. The fog was on the mobile phone. The fog was speeding. The fog was too close to the vehicle in front. The bloody fog chased emergency vehicles along the hard shoulder.
The fog.
COME ON!!
The first, vital, step in solving a problem is to identify the problem accurately and honestly.
If you don't do that you cannot solve the problem. Solving it is impossible.
The cause of the crash was driver incompetence. Nothing else.
Driving standards are bad enough as it is, without official announcements that drivers are not to blame for crashes.
Now all the people who were actually resposible for the death and destruction can go on believing they were not at fault, that they have no behaviour to change, that they can go on endangering others by their incompetent, dangerous, brainless driving.
They have official exoneration.
Read it here.
So says the story in Gulf News, reporting from Abu Dhbai Police's press conference.
The fog drove vehicles in to other vehicles. The fog was not paying attention. The fog was on the mobile phone. The fog was speeding. The fog was too close to the vehicle in front. The bloody fog chased emergency vehicles along the hard shoulder.
The fog.
COME ON!!
The first, vital, step in solving a problem is to identify the problem accurately and honestly.
If you don't do that you cannot solve the problem. Solving it is impossible.
The cause of the crash was driver incompetence. Nothing else.
Driving standards are bad enough as it is, without official announcements that drivers are not to blame for crashes.
Now all the people who were actually resposible for the death and destruction can go on believing they were not at fault, that they have no behaviour to change, that they can go on endangering others by their incompetent, dangerous, brainless driving.
They have official exoneration.
Read it here.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Light at the end of the tunnel
There are encouraging signs that little by little we may be getting to more public honesty about things.
We're used to the relentless 'everything is good, nothing bad ever happens' style of reporting, but there are the odd signs that it's beginning to be a bit more realistic, a bit more honest.
Not only are officials, and The Big Boss, saying things publicly that once would have been kept private, but they are being reported.
There's another little item along these lines today with the announcement that Dubai Police are launching an anti-narcotics campaign. Part of it is to help rehabilitate 5,000 drug addicts in the Arab world.
Announcing it, Police Chief Lt.General Dahi Khalfan Tamim said that according to international statistics there are 10 million addicts in the Arab world.
Not so long ago that kind of thing would not have been spoken about publicly.
Unless problems are identified and acknowledged they can never be fixed. And it's always dangerous if the general public is kept in the dark and believes that nothing bad is happening around them.
A shortened version of the newspaper report is here.
We're used to the relentless 'everything is good, nothing bad ever happens' style of reporting, but there are the odd signs that it's beginning to be a bit more realistic, a bit more honest.
Not only are officials, and The Big Boss, saying things publicly that once would have been kept private, but they are being reported.
There's another little item along these lines today with the announcement that Dubai Police are launching an anti-narcotics campaign. Part of it is to help rehabilitate 5,000 drug addicts in the Arab world.
Announcing it, Police Chief Lt.General Dahi Khalfan Tamim said that according to international statistics there are 10 million addicts in the Arab world.
Not so long ago that kind of thing would not have been spoken about publicly.
Unless problems are identified and acknowledged they can never be fixed. And it's always dangerous if the general public is kept in the dark and believes that nothing bad is happening around them.
A shortened version of the newspaper report is here.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Frightening traffic figures
New tougher penalties for traffic offences came into force on March 1st. We obviously need them.
Dubai Police report that traffic offences are increasing, with 272,979 in February.
In 29 days there were 272,979 drivers caught breaking the law.
That's 9,413 offences a day.
392 an hour.
It's a traffic offence every nine seconds.
Many of these were dangerous and life threatening - 4,724 vehicles were confiscated in February for committing dangerous traffic offences.
And these figures record only the drivers actually caught committing an offence.
The full story is here.
Dubai Police report that traffic offences are increasing, with 272,979 in February.
In 29 days there were 272,979 drivers caught breaking the law.
That's 9,413 offences a day.
392 an hour.
It's a traffic offence every nine seconds.
Many of these were dangerous and life threatening - 4,724 vehicles were confiscated in February for committing dangerous traffic offences.
And these figures record only the drivers actually caught committing an offence.
The full story is here.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
RAK shows the way
For a long time I've been saying that while we need education to improve motorists' attitudes in Dubai, in the short term we also need strong measures against today's moronic drivers.
In simple terms, get them off the road.
The news from Ras Al Khaimah is encouraging and I hope the other emirates will follow with tougher measures.
The Head of the Traffic & Licencing Department announced new instructions from the RAK Chief of Police, including sensible fines, vehicle confiscation and jail for reckless drivers in the emirate.
Col. Nasser Salem Muradad said reckless drivers will spend two weeks in jail, be fined Dh3,000 and have their vehicle confiscated for six months.
The rules apply all over the emirate, the tourist area of Awafi being mentioned specifically, and include motorcycles and quad bikes.
Failing to fasten seat belts and using a non hands-free mobile phone will be a target and there will be an instant Dh2,000 fine for vehicles exceeding the legal window tinting limit.
In simple terms, get them off the road.
The news from Ras Al Khaimah is encouraging and I hope the other emirates will follow with tougher measures.
The Head of the Traffic & Licencing Department announced new instructions from the RAK Chief of Police, including sensible fines, vehicle confiscation and jail for reckless drivers in the emirate.
Col. Nasser Salem Muradad said reckless drivers will spend two weeks in jail, be fined Dh3,000 and have their vehicle confiscated for six months.
The rules apply all over the emirate, the tourist area of Awafi being mentioned specifically, and include motorcycles and quad bikes.
Failing to fasten seat belts and using a non hands-free mobile phone will be a target and there will be an instant Dh2,000 fine for vehicles exceeding the legal window tinting limit.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Realising the obvious
Earlier this year an excellent system was put in place by Dubai police to deter traffic offences. Vehicles were confiscated for a minimum of a week and up to three months, depending on the seriousness of the offence.
But there was what I always thought a strange part of the system. Apart from dangerous driving offences, the vehicles could get out of jail by payment of the derisory ransom of Dh100 a day.
Car impounded for a week? No problem. Pay Dh700 and you can have it back.
It's no surprise that the system was abused. According to police, 'the majority' of motorists who paid the fine and kept their vehicle then repeated the offence.
So now common sense prevails and the system has been abolished. Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, our Police Chief, said that confiscation of the vehicle was a stricter punishment and was more effective.
In future, if your car is confiscated it will stay confiscated for the full term.
Excellent news. We need effective policies to get the morons off the road.
By the way, I made the point in my 'smoking fines' postings (scroll down to find them) about the inconsistency between fines for smoking and for traffic offences. The Dh100 a day fine here emphasises the point.
But there was what I always thought a strange part of the system. Apart from dangerous driving offences, the vehicles could get out of jail by payment of the derisory ransom of Dh100 a day.
Car impounded for a week? No problem. Pay Dh700 and you can have it back.
It's no surprise that the system was abused. According to police, 'the majority' of motorists who paid the fine and kept their vehicle then repeated the offence.
So now common sense prevails and the system has been abolished. Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, our Police Chief, said that confiscation of the vehicle was a stricter punishment and was more effective.
In future, if your car is confiscated it will stay confiscated for the full term.
Excellent news. We need effective policies to get the morons off the road.
By the way, I made the point in my 'smoking fines' postings (scroll down to find them) about the inconsistency between fines for smoking and for traffic offences. The Dh100 a day fine here emphasises the point.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Labour accommodation inspections
I posted last week about the Cabinet directive that labour accommodation had to meet prescribed standards, and the follow-up by The Big Boss who ordered Dubai Municipality to employ sufficient inspectors.
Today Gulf News reports that Dubai Police's Human Rights Division is doing its bit to improve things.
Special teams have begun to inspect labour accommodation to ensure that it complies with the law. They began with inspections in Al Ghusais, Al Qouz and Jebel Ali and will 'listen to accommodation-related complaints and suggestions from labourers', according to the report.
The UAE, and Dubai in particular because of our high profile, have been getting bad press internationally because of the treatment of labourers by some, by far too many, companies.
As I've said before, it's a sad fact of life that we don't all treat each other as we should. Given that we don't, we need the authorities to enforce the laws and it at last sems to be happening in regard to labourer accommodation.
Fingers crossed...
You can read the full Gulf News story here.
Today Gulf News reports that Dubai Police's Human Rights Division is doing its bit to improve things.
Special teams have begun to inspect labour accommodation to ensure that it complies with the law. They began with inspections in Al Ghusais, Al Qouz and Jebel Ali and will 'listen to accommodation-related complaints and suggestions from labourers', according to the report.
The UAE, and Dubai in particular because of our high profile, have been getting bad press internationally because of the treatment of labourers by some, by far too many, companies.
As I've said before, it's a sad fact of life that we don't all treat each other as we should. Given that we don't, we need the authorities to enforce the laws and it at last sems to be happening in regard to labourer accommodation.
Fingers crossed...
You can read the full Gulf News story here.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
A logical plan...but when?
RTA studies have shown that the sudden breakdown of a vehicle or a minor accident that actually needs only five minutes to clear the vehicle from the spot currently needs at least 40 minutes to remove the vehicle and resume normal traffic movement.
I think those of us who've been stuck in jams might think it takes a lot more than 40 minutes to resume normal traffic movement.
However, the RTA has come up with a logical, and long overdue, plan. Private companies with towing vehicles stationed at various sites across Dubai will be allowed to clear vehicles involved in minor accidents, clearing the roads much more quickly.
But.
The plan is only in the 'consideration' stages so we'll have to put up for a while yet with the unnecessary chaos that every accident causes.
The story doesn't say but I wonder if it will mean the stupidity of having to have a police report for even the most minor of accidents will disappear. What a nonsense that is, police time being wasted having to attend scenes of minor bumps, when no-one is injured, and writing a report just to satisfy the insurance companies.
By the way, the report gives figures that show the extent of our problems with driving standards. The number of registered vehicles in Dubai is 780,000. The number of accidents last year was 243,386. One in three vehicles is involved in an accident. An accident every two minutes. Amazing figures.
Gulf News report is here.
I think those of us who've been stuck in jams might think it takes a lot more than 40 minutes to resume normal traffic movement.
However, the RTA has come up with a logical, and long overdue, plan. Private companies with towing vehicles stationed at various sites across Dubai will be allowed to clear vehicles involved in minor accidents, clearing the roads much more quickly.
But.
The plan is only in the 'consideration' stages so we'll have to put up for a while yet with the unnecessary chaos that every accident causes.
The story doesn't say but I wonder if it will mean the stupidity of having to have a police report for even the most minor of accidents will disappear. What a nonsense that is, police time being wasted having to attend scenes of minor bumps, when no-one is injured, and writing a report just to satisfy the insurance companies.
By the way, the report gives figures that show the extent of our problems with driving standards. The number of registered vehicles in Dubai is 780,000. The number of accidents last year was 243,386. One in three vehicles is involved in an accident. An accident every two minutes. Amazing figures.
Gulf News report is here.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
If only...
"...our police patrols are constantly around Dubai. They are everywhere and anyone guilty of committing this crime can, and will, be arrested in seconds."
That's what Brig. Issa Aman deputy head of Dubai Traffic Police told 7Days.
The story was about the growing menace of drink driving, but that's only one of the moronic practices of so many of our drivers. Relatively uncommon too. Jumping red lights is, in my opinion, at least as dangerous as drink driving and happens far more frequently. So do many other dangerous offences such as hard shoulder driving, double-parking blocking major roads, tailgating at high speed, general dangerous driving and all the rest of it.
'The police are everywhere'?
We wish.
the 7Days story is here.
That's what Brig. Issa Aman deputy head of Dubai Traffic Police told 7Days.
The story was about the growing menace of drink driving, but that's only one of the moronic practices of so many of our drivers. Relatively uncommon too. Jumping red lights is, in my opinion, at least as dangerous as drink driving and happens far more frequently. So do many other dangerous offences such as hard shoulder driving, double-parking blocking major roads, tailgating at high speed, general dangerous driving and all the rest of it.
'The police are everywhere'?
We wish.
the 7Days story is here.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Arrests made in dancer's death case.
Following on from yesterday's posting about the death of Aaina Malek, caused because she was, allegedly, locked in her apartment by her employer, I'm pleased to read that the manager of the dance club has been arrested.
He will be referred to Public Prosecution on charges of suppressing the freedom of people, according to a senior police official.
I sincerely hope the charges will be increased from that, given that someone died as a result of being locked up.
Two flatmates of the dead girl have also been arrested, and from how I read the report it seems the charge is the same as for the manager.
There's an added chapter in the tragedy for the family too - apparently Aaina's teenage brother was killed in a road accident last year.
Gulf News has the story here.
He will be referred to Public Prosecution on charges of suppressing the freedom of people, according to a senior police official.
I sincerely hope the charges will be increased from that, given that someone died as a result of being locked up.
Two flatmates of the dead girl have also been arrested, and from how I read the report it seems the charge is the same as for the manager.
There's an added chapter in the tragedy for the family too - apparently Aaina's teenage brother was killed in a road accident last year.
Gulf News has the story here.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Criminal treatment of employees.
Another example of the appalling way far too many employers treat their employees.
On Monday a fire in a residential building in Al Rolla Road, Bur Dubai resulted in the death of one young woman. Several others were rescued.
A neighbour reported at the time that he had to kick the door down to try to rescue residents from the burning apartment. Witnesses said that they could all have been rescued had the door not been locked.
Today Gulf News reports that police are investigating whether the door was locked, imprisoning the people living there.
A big area of abuse seems to be emerging here, brought to public attention as a result of the fire.
I didn't realise that there are, apparently, more than 150 Asian dance clubs in Dubai where hundreds of girls perform every night.
"They normally keep the girls, who perform in dance clubs, locked in their flats during the day for 'safety' reasons," said a dancer, who works at another club.
"It is quite common and the management of many Indian and Pakistani night-clubs follows the same practice.
We are taken to clubs around 8pm and brought back to flats after 3am when the clubs close. We are not allowed to go anywhere. We are given food in the flat and we live like prisoners," she said.
Several girls and employees of other clubs also confirmed this.
When contacted, the management of the club refused to comment."
Locking people up in this way is, apart from any humanitarian issue, a criminal offence. Confirming that, Dubai police said that legal action can be taken against the offenders.
I sincerely hope that the full weight of the law will be brought down on anyone found guilty of this crime. In the case of Sana'a Malek (aka Aaina), the girl who died, I hope that nothing less than manslaughter is charged.
Another aspect of the story is that the dancers are brought in on visit visas but work for three months. If the customers like them their visit visas are renewed, if not they're sent back.
Working while on a visit visa? Isn't that illegal too?
While investigating this individual tragedy I hope that Dubai police extend the investigation into the whole sordid, illegal activity and bring to justice any and all employers who are responsible.
The full story is in Gulf News here.
On Monday a fire in a residential building in Al Rolla Road, Bur Dubai resulted in the death of one young woman. Several others were rescued.
A neighbour reported at the time that he had to kick the door down to try to rescue residents from the burning apartment. Witnesses said that they could all have been rescued had the door not been locked.
Today Gulf News reports that police are investigating whether the door was locked, imprisoning the people living there.
A big area of abuse seems to be emerging here, brought to public attention as a result of the fire.
I didn't realise that there are, apparently, more than 150 Asian dance clubs in Dubai where hundreds of girls perform every night.
"They normally keep the girls, who perform in dance clubs, locked in their flats during the day for 'safety' reasons," said a dancer, who works at another club.
"It is quite common and the management of many Indian and Pakistani night-clubs follows the same practice.
We are taken to clubs around 8pm and brought back to flats after 3am when the clubs close. We are not allowed to go anywhere. We are given food in the flat and we live like prisoners," she said.
Several girls and employees of other clubs also confirmed this.
When contacted, the management of the club refused to comment."
Locking people up in this way is, apart from any humanitarian issue, a criminal offence. Confirming that, Dubai police said that legal action can be taken against the offenders.
I sincerely hope that the full weight of the law will be brought down on anyone found guilty of this crime. In the case of Sana'a Malek (aka Aaina), the girl who died, I hope that nothing less than manslaughter is charged.
Another aspect of the story is that the dancers are brought in on visit visas but work for three months. If the customers like them their visit visas are renewed, if not they're sent back.
Working while on a visit visa? Isn't that illegal too?
While investigating this individual tragedy I hope that Dubai police extend the investigation into the whole sordid, illegal activity and bring to justice any and all employers who are responsible.
The full story is in Gulf News here.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Plenty of good news...
...well, sort-of good news, it depends how you look at it. And, as ever, whether what's promised will be carried out.
The stories are all in Gulf News today.
First, the labourers labouring in 50 degree heat and high humidity.
Although not officially announced yet, a ministerial decision is apparently scheduled for next week, it seems that last year's 12.30 to 3pm break will be repeated this year. Minister of Labour Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi is reported as saying that no major changes are likely and that the inspectors will be out in force to ensure companies obey the rule.
The fines, Dh10,000 for a first offence, are not too daunting, but company transactions will be suspended for between three months for a first offence and one year for a third offence. That's the part that may force them to rethink their practices.
Last year nearly 25% of the 3,000 companies inspected broke the rule.
You can read the story here.
Second story is from Abu Dhabi and is on animal welfare.
The Federal National Council apparently agreed to the Animal Welfare draft law in its session on Tuesday and the 17-article law will be referred to Cabinet.
The law calls for violators to be fined between Dh5,000 and Dh20,000 with the possibility of jail for not less than one month. It says animal owners must take care of their pets and not cause them any harm...I'd like to see the stupid bimbo who walks her dog around Dubai Marina on the scorching footpath late-mornings made to walk barefoot on it herself!
The law also talks about the nutrition of animals and their transport, not crowding animals of different species together, sale of sick or injured animals postponed until they have fully recovered, written permission required for exhibitions of animals for sale and so on.
I wonder whether it will apply to Dubai Zoo...
As Mahatma Gandhi said, you can judge a society by the way it treats its animals.
The story is here.
Next we have what seems to be a reasonably successful blitz by Dubai police to stop improper behaviour on the beaches.
In May & June 1,461 people, we can assume that means men, were caught for improper behaviour on the beaches. That ranges from swimming in unsuitable clothes, which I assume means underwear which becomes almost transparent after a dip in the sea, to taking photographs of women or otherwise harassing other beachgoers.
For a minor offence they have to sign an undertaking not to do it again, for a serious offence they are prosecuted.
It's another welcome move towards a more civilised society.
You can read the story here.
Finally, reckless pedestrians are being held accountable for their own stupidity.
Crossing roads at undesignated areas is illegal, irresponsible road crossing causing an accident will be punished by a fine of Dh500 or jail time. Unless they're killed, presumably, which happens to far too many of them. We're told that up to 40% of our horrendous road fatalities are pedestrians. So now the police say they will get tough on 'reckless pedestrians'.
Throwing drivers in jail because an idiot ran across Sheikh Zayed Road in front of six lanes of 120kph traffic is obviously not the right thing to do. So this is a good move, a necessary one, but it's only part of the job to be done.
Let's be fair to pedestrians, we need crossings, particularly bridges or underpasses on major multi-lane highways. And we need to educate drivers to stop at the road-level pedestrian crossings when people want to cross. As it is now, if you stop to let pedestrians walk on a designated crossing you're more than likely to be shunted in the rear by another driver, who simply doesn't expect the driver in front to stop. Or he blasts the horn and swerves round you at speed, just as the pedestrian is moving across.
The story is here.
The stories are all in Gulf News today.
First, the labourers labouring in 50 degree heat and high humidity.
Although not officially announced yet, a ministerial decision is apparently scheduled for next week, it seems that last year's 12.30 to 3pm break will be repeated this year. Minister of Labour Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi is reported as saying that no major changes are likely and that the inspectors will be out in force to ensure companies obey the rule.
The fines, Dh10,000 for a first offence, are not too daunting, but company transactions will be suspended for between three months for a first offence and one year for a third offence. That's the part that may force them to rethink their practices.
Last year nearly 25% of the 3,000 companies inspected broke the rule.
You can read the story here.
Second story is from Abu Dhabi and is on animal welfare.
The Federal National Council apparently agreed to the Animal Welfare draft law in its session on Tuesday and the 17-article law will be referred to Cabinet.
The law calls for violators to be fined between Dh5,000 and Dh20,000 with the possibility of jail for not less than one month. It says animal owners must take care of their pets and not cause them any harm...I'd like to see the stupid bimbo who walks her dog around Dubai Marina on the scorching footpath late-mornings made to walk barefoot on it herself!
The law also talks about the nutrition of animals and their transport, not crowding animals of different species together, sale of sick or injured animals postponed until they have fully recovered, written permission required for exhibitions of animals for sale and so on.
I wonder whether it will apply to Dubai Zoo...
As Mahatma Gandhi said, you can judge a society by the way it treats its animals.
The story is here.
Next we have what seems to be a reasonably successful blitz by Dubai police to stop improper behaviour on the beaches.
In May & June 1,461 people, we can assume that means men, were caught for improper behaviour on the beaches. That ranges from swimming in unsuitable clothes, which I assume means underwear which becomes almost transparent after a dip in the sea, to taking photographs of women or otherwise harassing other beachgoers.
For a minor offence they have to sign an undertaking not to do it again, for a serious offence they are prosecuted.
It's another welcome move towards a more civilised society.
You can read the story here.
Finally, reckless pedestrians are being held accountable for their own stupidity.
Crossing roads at undesignated areas is illegal, irresponsible road crossing causing an accident will be punished by a fine of Dh500 or jail time. Unless they're killed, presumably, which happens to far too many of them. We're told that up to 40% of our horrendous road fatalities are pedestrians. So now the police say they will get tough on 'reckless pedestrians'.
Throwing drivers in jail because an idiot ran across Sheikh Zayed Road in front of six lanes of 120kph traffic is obviously not the right thing to do. So this is a good move, a necessary one, but it's only part of the job to be done.
Let's be fair to pedestrians, we need crossings, particularly bridges or underpasses on major multi-lane highways. And we need to educate drivers to stop at the road-level pedestrian crossings when people want to cross. As it is now, if you stop to let pedestrians walk on a designated crossing you're more than likely to be shunted in the rear by another driver, who simply doesn't expect the driver in front to stop. Or he blasts the horn and swerves round you at speed, just as the pedestrian is moving across.
The story is here.
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