Thursday, Jun 22, 2017

Dubai: As many as 1,671 motorists used their smartphones to report their own minor traffic accidents in Dubai since the start of Ramadan, police said.

Brigadier Khalid Nasser Al Razooqi, general director of Smart Services at Dubai Police, said on Thursday that drivers used the Dubai Police smart app to record the roadside mishaps.

“Those drivers who used the service didn’t need to wait for police patrols to come and make the accident report. They parked on the side of the road and that’s helped to reduce traffic jams on the roads because of minor accidents,” Brigadier Al Razooqi said.

The online service, he said, can be found in the police application and is called ‘Report Minor Accident’.

“It is an easy and simple way to report accidents. It reduces time and after reporting their own minor accidents via the app, motorists will receive the police report for the accident, which they can then present to insurers,” he said.

So, in case there is a minor accident (involving two vehicles), both drivers can send us the report right away, and the police officers will check the data and issue a report after 15 minutes. A copy for each driver will be sent to their email and to the insurance companies,” Brig Al Razooqi explained.

The application uses clear and easy-to-use prompts.

Some of the information that needs to be entered includes number plates of both cars, the complainant’s licence number, photos of the damage to cars, the complainant’s email and a few other details that will help the officers understand what happened.

The app also has a guide in both Arabic and English explaining the steps if anyone has trouble using it.

The app allows the reporter to take up to five photos of each vehicle involved. There is also an option to add more vehicles, if the accident involves more than two vehicles.

It also sends the exact location of the accident and identifies the nearest police station, which will be handling the reports for the accident.

Brig Al Razooqi said that if the two parties involved in the accident do not agree on who is at fault, each can file a report from his/her phone and the officers will look at both reports, which the system automatically links, and then decide.

He added that if the police need more information to determine what happened, they will call the drivers involved in the accident.

Meanwhile, another police app feature called “We are all police” has received 910 reports from the public during Ramadan.

The service allows users with a mobile phone to take photos of traffic violations in progress by other motorists with a mobile phone through the Dubai Police mobile app or mobile website and send it to the police.

Once the police confirm the authenticity of the photo and determine the violation, they fine the violator.

“It is important not to take pictures when the person is driving. Violations that can be reported are blocking the way by vehicles, stopping in a prohibited place, parking in the pedestrian-designated areas, parking on the pavement, parking in front of the fire hose and parking in spaces for special needs people and emergency vehicles,” he added.

Ali Al Shouk, Staff Reporter

Gulf News 2017. All rights reserved.