Sharjah Police renewed their tailgating warning on 11 September after sharing footage of a motorcycle slamming into a slowing car in the leftmost lane of a Sharjah road, leaving the rider sprawled on the tarmac after impact.
The authority said maintaining a proper following distance gives drivers a few extra seconds to react and stop safely. Sharjah Police also urged motorists to stay fully focused, avoid distractions, and be ready for sudden changes in traffic ahead.
What tailgating costs a driver in Sharjah
Tailgating carries a Dh400 fine and four black points in Sharjah. Repeat or aggravated offences can tip into reckless driving territory, which the Sharjah Police lists at a Dh2,000 fine, 23 black points, a 60-day vehicle impoundment, and release fees of up to Dh15,000.
Sharjah tightened its impoundment release structure in early 2025. Riders caught on motorcycles in restricted areas or drivers charged with reckless driving face a Dh20,000 release fee to recover an impounded vehicle. Driving without a licence pushes that fee to Dh30,000.
In 2024, Sharjah Police said vehicles could be impounded for up to 30 days for multiple traffic offences, including tailgating.
How other emirates handle reckless driving penalties
Dubai and Abu Dhabi both carry a Dh50,000 fine for reckless driving. In Dubai, reckless driving that endangers others also brings a 60-day vehicle impoundment and 23 black points, according to Gulf News citing Dubai Police.
Dubai’s AI-powered radars monitor a broad range of offences beyond tailgating. The radar network records violations including driving on the hard shoulder (Dh1,000 fine, 30-day impoundment, six black points), sudden unsafe lane changes, and failing to give way to pedestrians at designated crossings (Dh500 fine, six black points). Dubai police said in March last year that the same system was being used to catch tailgating and issue fines automatically.
For speeding, Dubai’s scale runs from a Dh2,000 fine and 12 black points for exceeding the limit by more than 60 km/h, up to a Dh3,000 fine, 60-day impoundment, and 23 black points for exceeding it by more than 80 km/h, per Gulf News reporting on Dubai traffic fines.
In Ras Al Khaimah, penalties for serious offences include a 120-day impoundment and a Dh20,000 release fee for racing without a licence plate or with a fake plate, following an Executive Council decision to stiffen traffic penalties, Gulf News reported. Vehicles left unclaimed after three months in RAK are auctioned.
Abu Dhabi Police warn that drivers operating a vehicle that causes excessive noise face a Dh2,000 fine and 12 black points under Article 20 of the Traffic and Circulation Law, according to Abu Dhabi Police via Gulf News. Dubai applies the same Dh2,000 fine and 12 black points for noise violations.
Sharjah Police have not announced a date for a follow-up enforcement campaign, but the 11 September video release signals an active push on safe-distance compliance ahead of the busy autumn commuting period.
