Zip,
zap, zoom cars impounded
By Afkar
Abdullah
1 June 2005
AJMAN — For those young motorists bitten by the
'zip, zap, zoom' bug, the Ajman Traffic police sent a
clear message yesterday, when they confiscated more than 11 vehicles illegally
modified to increase speed and produce loud noise.
According to Brigadier Ali Saeed
Al Matroushi, Director of Traffic and Accident
Section at the Traffic Department, the cars were modified by their owners to
achieve high speeds and loud noise, but this was harmful both to the public and
the environment.
"These modified cars and motorbikes violate UAE
standards besides being a menace on the roads," he said, adding the
nuisance value of such vehicles was so high that the noise levels produced by
them could wake up an entire neighbourhood.
Stating that the noise
generated by a single motorbike with modified mufflers could disturb the sleep
of 200 people at night, Brig Al Matroushi said such
vehicles can even lead to permanent hearing loss, besides affecting quality of
life and work. "The noise generated by these machines can result
even in tissue damage leading to serious health problems, and can even lead to
miscarriage among pregnant women," he said.
Teenagers enjoy modifying mufflers of their vehicles to
produce sounds often projected in movies, but they don't realise
that their antics prevent people from walking on the streets, he said, adding
that on a more serious note, it can distract the attention of other road users
which can result in traffic accidents.
"Loud sounds can affect hearing, vision, reaction
time and judgement of drivers and nearby people,
thereby increasing the risk factor significantly for everyone in the
vicinity," he said. These youngsters are only trying to ape "fast and
furious" movies and serials telecast by satellite channels, he added.