Tag Archives: tsi
RAK cuts traffic fines by 50% for 3 months
RAK cuts traffic fines by 50% for 3 months Ahmed Shaaban (ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com) / 14 August 2013 For three months from August 18, fines imposed for traffic law offences on Ras Al Khaimah’s roads will be cut by half. Brigadier Mohammed Al Noobi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the RAK Police, on Tuesday said the grace period will be valid till November 18. “Only the erring drivers caught on the emirate’s roads shall be eligible for the fine discount. The unpaid fines for speeding and other traffic offences must be paid at the 50 per cent discounted rate at the RAK Traffic and Patrols Department.” Brigadier Al Noobi noted that the only exception to this was impoundment. “In this case, the erring motorist must appear in person at the department and hand over his/her vehicle for impoundment or pay the set fine.” The move was meant to cut the financial burden on errant drivers and encourage the motorists to pay the pending fines, but exercise more caution on the road in the future. “The move is also aimed to help motorists renew their expired registration cards.” The traffic and patrols departments in all emirates ordered a 25-50 per cent discount on the traffic fines recorded in the respective emirates. “The decision encouraged many motorists to renew their expired registration cards and settle the accumulated fines.” As per a tougher unified traffic law with higher fines and a black points system enacted in 2008 all over the country, the erring motorists penalised with 24 black points would lose their driving licences. Driving callously costs an erring driver Dh2,000, 12 black points, as well as the impoundment of the vehicle for 30 days. Not carrying a driving licence or using a horn in a disturbing way attracts a fine of Dh100. Pedestrian knocked down Meanwhile, a 30-year-old Asian man, identified only as M.A., suffered serious head injuries after a vehicle driven by an Emirati motorist, named H.A., knocked him down while crossing the road near the Emarat petrol station in the Khor Khuweir area, according to the RAK Civil Defence Department. “The mishap is to be blamed on the motorist who was speeding and driving inattentively that he did not notice the pedestrian who was crossing the road. The victim, who was given first aid, was shifted to Saqr Hospital.” Continue reading
Drivers of 21,962 vehicles fined for worn-out tyres
Drivers of 21,962 vehicles fined for worn-out tyres (Wam) / 14 August 2013 The Traffic and Patrols Directorate of the Abu Dhabi Police has issued tickets to the drivers or owners of 21,962 vehicles for unfit, worn-out tyres in the first half of this year. Colonel Hamad Nasser Al Baloushi, Director of the Peripheral Areas Traffic Department at the directorate, urged motorists to ensure the tyres of their motor vehicles are in good condition, and replace damaged or worn-out tyres, to avoid tyre bursts that can result in serious injuries and fatal accidents. Colonel Baloushi spoke in awareness programmes of the “ Summer Without Accidents” campaign launched by the Interior Ministry to curb traffic accidents and about the priority of the Abu Dhabi Police to make the roads much safer, as well as the strategy of the traffic and patrols directorate. He stressed on the need to regularly check the vehicles fitted tyres as well as the reserve (spare) tyre before hitting the road. Also the tyres’ air pressure should be checked. He said, driving at high speed and the friction between the tyres and the road heats up the tyres and may cause it to explode. He urged motorists to ensure the tyres are in compliance with specifications of their vehicles before buying them, and not go on the mere appearance and shape. They should ensure the tyres match the speed and power of the vehicle, he added. Colonel Baloushi also warned motorists that any one found using unfit tyres in violation of the law, will be slapped with a Dh200 fine and his vehicle will be impounded for a week. He also cautioned motorists, especially on highways, if replacing their vehicle’s tyres on road then not to leave the damaged ones by the road side, as they can become obstacles in the way of other drivers and lead to traffic accidents. Continue reading
No Mers from pasteurised camel products: Experts
No Mers from pasteurised camel products: Experts Amanda Fisher (amanda@khaleejtimes.com) / 14 August 2013 With a link established between camels and the deadly coronavirus that has killed 46 people, scientists are at pains to reassure the public camel products are still fit for consumption. In the wake of news that scientists in the UAE, the Netherlands and Germany have discovered anti-bodies from the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome — a relative of Sars — in dromedary camels, fears have been mounting amongst both the public and camel owners about the safety of consuming camel products. Since last year there have been 94 confirmed Mers cases, including five in the UAE, which led to the death of an elderly Emirati man from Abu Dhabi — who already had cancer. Dubai-based Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) virologist Renate Wernery, who is working on the international research alongside husband and CVRL scientific director Dr Ulli Wernery, said local camel owners had “expressed concern”. However, the husband and wife team have assured all camel products in the country are completely safe — as long as they are pasteurised. “The camel milk and camel milk products that go to the public are pasteurised, and any virus, including the coronavirus dies off — that is a scientific fact — at 56 degrees Celsius. Pasteurisation happens at a much higher temperature.” Pasteurisation occurs between temperatures of about 63 and 75 degrees Celsius. “The public is concerned now that there is an insecurity from consuming products from the camel, which is absolutely not valid. Everything is safe, especially from the market here.” Dr Ulli Wernery said the presence of Mers antibodies in camels could even be a good thing. “People have confused the antibodies which have been found in the camels with the virus but the virus has not been found in camels. Camels developed antibodies against the virus which protect them from the disease, it’s very harmless, it’s good even — (the camels are) protected from the virus.” It was not clear how or when camels had come into contact with the Mers coronavirus, though one theory suggested the link had come from bats “but maybe it comes from rats or mice in the desert, who knows?”. “(Camels) have connected to the virus some point during their lives, but we don’t know when — it could be 10 years ago,” Dr Ulli Wernery said. And if camel populations were really hosting the virus, the Wernerys should know about it — the avid camel milk fans, who drink the milk daily, work closely with a large population of camels. “I have done more than 1,000 (post mortems) on camels and I’m still very fit. I really come into contact very closely and nothing has happened…I’m not worried at all,” Dr Ulli Wernery said. Renate Wernery said camels had “very aggressive, robust” immune systems, which meant they had antibodies to many diseases — sometimes diseases that had never even manifested. However, talk of where the highly contagious virus started and how it had transmitted to humans was “speculation”. “Nobody knows yet where the source of the virus is, but CVRL is of course interested to solve the whole mystery. We will keep working with international researchers, this is our duty as scientists…we have to find out more about it, but nobody should be afraid at the moment to use camel products.” While some of the people who had contracted Mers had had direct contact with camels, including the Emirati man who died after treating a sick camel, most had pre-existing diseases such as diabetes or cancer. The scientists’ have been backed up by the World Health Organisation, which states on its website most human cases did not have a history of direct contact with camels. “It is unlikely that transmission of the Mers-CoV to people occurs through direct exposure to an infected camel, as very few of the cases have reported a camel exposure.” The WHO stated the route of transmission to humans may be indirect, and recommended people avoid contact with “obviously sick” animals, including camels. “Animal products processed appropriately through cooking or pasteurisation are safe for consumption but should also be handled with care.” His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, sponsors all work conducted at CVRL. Continue reading
