The 50 per cent discount on fines currently handed to traffic offenders will be phased out from August 1, Abu Dhabi Police has said.

Authorities said the decision is intended to act as a deterrent to bad driving and improve road safety. It was made after a “thorough and in-depth” study on traffic safety measures, the force said.

The discount has been in place since 2010.

Last May, Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate said it was considering cancelling the discount.

“A plan to abolish the fine reduction system is part of preventive measures aimed at improving traffic safety levels,” said Brigadier Hussain Al Harithi, Director General of Central Operations at Abu Dhabi Police.

Al Harithi said road deaths in Abu Dhabi increased from 54 to 77 in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2015.

Road accidents also increased from 477 to 489 in the same period.

Sudden swerving, tailgating, straying into the next lane, jumping red lights and driving at excessive speed remain the most common causes of serious accidents.

The Abu Dhabi Police will keep on intensifying efforts to protect and maintain the safety of the road users, which also include improving the infrastructure to force drivers slow down in residential areas while plying the internal roads. This will be made in coordination with the strategic partners, mainly the Abu Dhabi Municipality an the Abu Dhabi urban Planning Council, to provide the best safety standards for pedestrians and motorists.

“The new rule is according to a traffic safety plan which aims at giving priority to making Abu Dhabi roads safer, one of the paramount priorities of the Abu Dhabi Police,” a statement released by the police said, adding that it is also in line with the Abu Dhabi Strategy 2030, which targets to reduce the traffic fatalities.

“The new rule aims at reducing traffic accidents, main reasons for which are speeding and violation of traffic regulations and rules. We are not looking at making profit, but our aim is to raise the standard of traffic safety,” the statement added.