Watch out: Who gets the right of way on the road?
A LOOK AT SITUATIONS WHERE MOTORISTS MUST GIVE WAY BUT OFTEN DON’T
Road accidents are often caused by actions that appear to be small. Not giving way or forcing your way into traffic are acts that can have dire consequences.
According to experts, drivers’ lack of respect for other road users is reflected in their reluctance to give way, leading to bouts of road rage and accidents.
In many cases, not giving way may stem from lack of awareness about the right of way as well as indecision by drivers. So who gets to go and when? “Never insist on taking the right of way,” said Abdul Razzaq, assistant technical manager at Emirates Driving Institute Dubai, urging motorists to be courteous to others.
“Drivers should never assume that other drivers will yield the right of way nor attempt to force their way into traffic. They should try to anticipate other drivers’ actions, as well as yielding. Always remember, giving up the right of way to other drivers helps avoid crashes,” he said.
‘Right of way’ is one of the basic subjects that is covered both in theory and in practice in Dubai’s driver training curriculum. However, motorists tend to forget the rules. Instead of giving way, they speed up when they see another motorist trying to join their lane, even if there is enough space.
“People speeding up and not allowing others to enter a lane has become common. If there is enough [of a] gap, there is no reason to speed up [and] one should give way. There is also an issue with those who cut in, while others follow the queue,” said Faheem Ahmad, an Indian expatriate with more than 20 years’ driving experience.
Razzaq said drivers are taught how they should give way to pedestrians, vehicles on major roads, through roads, at Tjunctions or when they are approaching the same through a minor road.
In addition, police, ambulances, Civil Defence and other emergency vehicles must always get right of way. Military vehicles in a convoy and children boarding or alighting a school bus should also get right of way.
Other instances which cause confusion with regard to right of way are at intersections or roundabouts where there is no signal. Razzaq said vehicles reaching an uncontrolled junction first should get the right
Mutual respect
of way. However, motorists are required to always stop and proceed only if it is safe to do so.
Motorists should also give way to vehicles coming on the road when they are pulling out of a parking lot.
Some drivers feel that although they know what is right, other drivers make it difficult for them to follow the rules.
“New drivers are particularly under pressure due to the way others behave on roads and this leads to a lot of accidents. One of the issues that I want to highlight is about taking the free right. In many cases, all vehicles cannot enter the free lane and those already in the free lane won’t let others enter even if there is space. I feel drivers should give space to each other and there should be mutual respect,” said Nurul Ameen, a Dubai resident with over five years of driving experience.
Drivers should never assume that other drivers will yield the ‘right of way’ nor attempt to force their way into traffic.” Abdul Razzaq | Emirates Driving Institute staff
People speeding up, not allowing others to enter a lane has become common. If there is enough [of a] gap, there is no reason to do so.” Faheem Ahmad | Dubai resident
New drivers are particularly under pressure due to the way others behave on roads and this leads to a lot of accidents.” Nurul Ameen | Dubai resident