Drivers told switch off your engines or face fines.

Provided by 7DAYS.ae

Dubai Police will slap fines of dhs300 on motorists who leave their engines switched on when they get out of their cars, it was revealed yesterday.A Last year 150 vehicles were stolen after drivers left their keys in the ignition and failed to switch their motors off, police said.

"In 2006, there were 115 (cars stolen), while last year this rose to 150. There is a need to stop this trend. People have to remember that they have to switch off their engine and lock the door before they leave the vehicle," said Lieutenant Colonel Ali Ahmed Ghanim, Director of Naif Police Station.A "If you're caught violating this, you will be fined dhs300."

Dubai Police has launched a four-day campaign to educate people on the issue under the slogan "Do Not Leave the Vehicle On". Ghanim said the police were going to issue "tens of thousands of flyers and brochures bearing messages mainly for drivers".A Some of the flyers contain messages such as: 'Do not be one of those 1,960 motorists who were fined in 2007 for leaving their vehicles switched on'.

"We have to tell them of the dangers of doing so," he said. Ghanim said leaving the engine running is an environmental hazard as well as being an encouragement to thieves.

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