Do not drive lorries in capital when it is foggy, police warn

‘Pull over to side of the road and wait for clear visibility’

ABU DHABI // Police yesterday reminded lorry drivers that they are not allowed to travel through Abu Dhabi city in heavy fog.

They should pull over on the side of a road where it is safe and wait for the fog to lift. Foggy mornings this week continued to disrupt traffic, causing accidents across the country.

The traffic and patrols directo- rate yesterday reported two accidents on Sheikh Zayed Road in Abu Dhabi.

“The main danger of driving in fog is the inability to see far enough ahead to drive safely and the disorientating effect that the lack of visibility can create,” said Phil Clarke, principal road safety consultant at Transport Research Laboratory UAE.

“Driving too fast to be able to react in time to vehicles ahead – which are travelling slowly, or are stationary, or in the event of an accident – are all common in the UAE. That is why there are often multi-vehicle accidents when it is foggy.”

Police urged motorists, particularly lorry drivers, to reduce their speed, use low-beam head- lights and maintain a safe following distance when driving in dense fog. Foggy conditions and decreased visibility are likely to persist across some western areas, according to the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology.

Heavy fog will continue to cloud interior and coastal areas, with visibility reduced to less than 100 metres in some areas.

At the weekend, Abu Dhabi police said 800 lorry drivers were penalised for driving in the fog and for other traffic breaches.

Although some drivers have a fixed monthly wage, many are paid for the hours they work.