Traffic Laws in Sharjah

The traffic laws in the Emirate of Sharjah are now updated to improve the safety of the drivers. Road infrastructure is also upgraded, and the modern transformation provides better security to all the residents of the Emirate. The Emirate of Sharjah is popular for family livings. These laws are established and governed by federal legislation. These rules and regulations are enforced by the Sharjah police department and the corresponding traffic authorities.

Traffic laws in Sharjah provide guidance and instructions on the rules and regulations. It promotes road safety. It further assists in the following:

• The new laws have reduced the percentage of daily accidents.
• These laws regulate the driver’s behavior and guide them to follow rules.
• It protects pedestrians. It saves people from road mishaps.
• It protects the public property from damage.

The laws are meant for all the residents of Sharjah, no matter which nation they belong. If they are living in Sharjah, they must stay obedient to the rules. Laws equally apply on UAE nationals as well as expatriates living in Sharjah.

It is important for all the residents, and tourists, to understand and follow the rules. Ignorance of law is not an excuse. On the other hand, those who violate the laws will face penalties and punishments as per the UAE traffic law. This can be of any type, from black points to vehicle impoundment or fines.

Criminal liability can also be applied for serious violations of laws. The professional traffic lawyers in Sharjah guide the public about staying compliant with the Emirate based and federal laws. It saves residents from inconvenience, and challenges while living in Sharjah.

The Emirate of Sharjah does not have its own separate traffic laws, but it follows the same Federal Traffic Legislation set by the UAE traffic regulation law. A federal law for the traffic is implemented in all the emirates. The UAE law applies uniformly all over the UAE, in every city and Emirate. The enforcement of these laws is also applied uniformly through three main entities, the local police, the traffic court and the administrative system. Traffic rules cover all the aspects, including:

• Driver Licensing
• Vehicle Registration
• Speed Limits
• Road Usage
• Pedestrians Responsibilities
• Black point and other penalties

The UAE law has emphasized the drivers on the use of driving of driving license. Drivers are required to obtain necessary driving permits first before they start driving. Drivers lacking diving license are taken as law violators in the UAE. The individuals who hold a valid UAE driving license under the correct vehicle category are legally permitted to drive in the UAE. Category is also important. Light vehicle license cannot be used for heavy vehicles. When an individual chooses to live in the UAE, it is mandatory for him to convert his foreign license to the UAE one and also complete the required driving test process. If any company has hired commercial drivers, the employers are responsible for ensuring their drivers hold a valid license at all times. Their licenses must be as per the vehicles they will have to drive.

Speed limits in Sharjah are not uniform for all drivers and in all the areas of driving. It can change depending on different things, among which road type and location play and an important role. Safety consideration is yet another factor depending on the types of road as school and residential areas have specified speed limits.

Every type of road has different limits. Highways have a higher speed limit as compared to normal city roads. The same goes for public areas too. A speed limit has been clearly set everywhere, and it is compulsory for drivers to follow that limit. The drivers are obligated to follow the signage limit and not assume anything on their own, as this risks many precious and innocent lives.

Emirate of Sharjah has fixed radars, mobile patrols, and a smart road management system. It analyzes and investigates speed limits and their violation through its enforced system. The Sharjah authorities claim that speed violations are amongst the most common violations recorded.

The law has specified strict passenger safety rules too for their safety. The two main things specified in this are the child safety regulations and the seat belts.

Seat belt use is mandatory for everyone seated in the vehicle. It is most important for the drivers and front-seat passengers. Child safety regulations are equally important and compulsory in Sharjah. Young children should be made to sit properly in the car. Toddlers and small kids should be secured using an approved child seat according to their age and size.

Passengers who fail to follow their safety standards as discussed above are considered violators of the law. If the car driver fails to comply with the child safety rules and ignores seat belts, it is treated as a safety violation. In this case, if an accident happens, it will increase legal liability and cause complications in insurance matters.

The use of a mobile phone without a hands-free is not allowed in Sharjah. Texting, browsing, and holding the mobile are things that can divert the attention of the driver. Eating while driving and engaging in unnecessary activities like reading papers, etc., while driving is also a form of distraction.

The Sharjah police have confirmed that any activity involving distraction is a violation of traffic rules. They enforced strict rules to prevent people and behaviors that are the cause of high risk accidents.

The authorities have claimed that any form of traffic violation will be fined and heavy penalties will be imposed on the violator. The authorities have provided safety guidance to the public.

The drivers must stop talking on a call or texting. In case of using maps for navigation, too, they must make a stop.

Sharjah has specified strict lane discipline rules for the vehicles moving on the roads. The rules designate lanes for vehicles based on their categories, like heavy vehicles, small cars, bikes, etc.

• Drivers use improper lanes other than those categorized for their vehicle
• Sudden lane change without prior indication
• Disrespecting the vehicle lane rules

These violations can result in strict penalties set by the Sharjah authorities. Therefore, the drivers are said to remain alert while changing lanes and should also avoid obstructing designated lanes.

Traffic laws apply to everyone, the drivers are must but the pedestrians are also in this list. The pedestrians should use designated crossings and footbridges. Jaywalking is not allowed and considered illegal.

The drivers are requested to be cautious, especially in residential and public areas. When an accident happens where pedestrians are involved, the case becomes complicated. The authorities investigate a number of things, among which is identifying the fault. They investigate who was at fault while assessing the speed, attentiveness of the driver, and the walking way of pedestrians.

Sharjah also applies the UAE black points system. This system accumulates points against the driver’s license for traffic violations. Every offence has a specific number of points based on the violation.

When a driver accumulates an excessive number of black points, there are many consequences related to it. It can be a license suspension, a driving restraining order, or a legal investigation. Therefore, it is said that drivers should not ignore minor violations because repeated small violations can add up to their black points.

The good news is that the Sharjah traffic authorities sometimes introduces initiative where the drivers can reduce their black points under specific conditions. This happens only sometimes and for a limited time and it is not for serious violations.

An official legal procedure is recommended to follow when any traffic mishap occurs. If an accident involves severe injury, damage and public safety risks, these must be reported immediately to the authorities.

It is not an ethical practice for the drivers to leave the scene without informing and permission from the authorities. If the vehicle is damaged, it must be photographed. The accidents should not compromise safety standards and must be reported accurately without any false information; otherwise, criminal charges will be applied.

The accident reports also affect the insurance claims, compensation for the damage, liability assessments, and court proceedings. The lawyers in Sharjah are skilled legal experts who help the public in a number of matters related to traffic incidents.

The payment process of traffic fines in Sharjah follow specified procedure. It can be checked and paid through official government platforms and police systems. If the fines payments are delayed, it can affect the vehicle registration renewal and administrative services. The drivers are also allowed to report incorrect fines. They can do this by following the legal and administrative process, and the lawyers can help them in such cases. Ignoring the payments can escalate legal consequences.