The number of ideal drivers receiving ‘white points’ as a token of appreciation for obeying traffic rules will be increased to 2,000 from 1,800, according to the general department of traffic of the Dubai Police. The winners will be announced on Sunday in a ceremony held at the department in the presence of Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police.

Colonel Jamal Al Bannai, deputy director of Dubai traffic department, said the number of drivers who received 24 white points last year counted to 1,800. He said that the total number of the drivers who were selected this year reached 2,640, and 2,000 of them would be awarded. The drivers include 1,344 males and 656 females. He said that the number of winners will be increased every year to encourage drivers to abide by traffic laws. A number of prizes including cars will be announced during the event.

In a new initiative due to be launched, the traffic police will patrol roads and watch drivers to select a random driver who abides by the traffic laws. They will check the driver’s traffic file and if no traffic violations are reported in the past one year, undercover white point patrols will reward him. Also the police will go to shopping malls and randomly check good drivers. They will be rewarded with vouchers and certificates after ensuring that they have not committed any violations.

Col. Al Bannai said that the new initiative was approved and the police will determine the number of drivers who will be awarded as part of the initiative.

He said that the white point system was implemented by the Dubai Police five years ago, to encourage motorists to follow traffic rules, and become safer drivers. The white points can be redeemed in many ways and can even help cancel some fines.

People with valid driving licences issued from Dubai and has one or more Dubai registered vehicles in their names will benefit from the system. No violation must be reported in the driving licence or the vehicle registered under the driver’s name for one year. The violations include Salik fines or fines from other emirates.

Each eligible person can receive a total of 12 white points a year, one will be credited at the end of each month. A motorist loses his entitlement to the month’s point on being involved in any kind of accident or committing a violation during that month. The white points are valid for a year and if a driver earns white points for five consecutive years, he would be eligible to enter a raffle draw. If one commits a serious offence, that warrants 24 black points and suspension of driver’s licence, that person will not qualify for any white points for an entire year.