Curb curiosity or face fine of Dh1,000
abu dhabi — Let emergency teams do their job and save lives, don’t linger near accident sites. Curious pedestrian onlookers could be slapped with a fine of Dh1,000 for this offence under the new Federal traffic law that came into effect last week, Abu Dhabi Police said on Friday.
The fine also applies to motorists who block ambulances and emergency vehicles, or fail to give way in the event of an accident.
“Pedestrians crossing roads near accident scenes and gathering there could delay ambulances or emergency vehicles from reaching the site on time and providing assistance to the injured,” Major Abdullah Al Qubaisi, head of the traffic control department at the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate, said. There is also the danger of them being knocked down by other vehicles.
“Sometimes cars do not give way to emergency vehicles which make it difficult for ambulances to reach accident spots,” said Al Qubaisi.
People filming or taking pictures of accident scenes without permission and posting them on social media are violating the privacy law and will face legal action, he said.
abu dhabi — The Abu Dhabi Police have warned the public that onlookers at an accident site would be fined Dh1,000, according to the new Federal Traffic Law.
“Curious pedestrians crossing roads near accident scenes and gathering there could delay the ambulance or emergency vehicles to reach the site and provide assistance to the injured,” an official explained on Friday. There is also the risk of them being knocked down by other vehicles.
Similarly, motorists who block ambulances and emergency vehicles or fail to give them way in the event of an accident will face a Dh1,000 fine.
The police told motorists to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles so that paramedics can reach patients and accident victims quickly.
The motorists who fail to move out of the way of ambulances remain one of the main obstacles facing the emergency service.
Major Abdullah Al Qubaisi, head of the traffic control department at the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate, said they have started implementation of the Dh1,000 fine for drivers blocking ambulances and other emergency vehicles, which is part of the amendments made to the Federal Traffic Law — which came into effect on July 1.
“Sometimes cars are not giving way to emergency vehicles and ambulances and drivers struggle to get through the traffic jams to reach the accident scenes,” said Al Qubaisi.
“Drivers failing to give way for emergency vehicles put people’s lives in danger. Motorists should allow paramedics and rescue teams to do their work of saving lives by not blocking the emergency vehicles.”
The police said a rushing ambulance means someone’s life is in danger and a motorist can help save that life by giving way so that there would be no delay in the treatment. Al Qubaisi explained that the new fine aims to improve ambulance response time.
He said drivers should pull to the side of the road to let ambulance teams pass.
He also warned that people filming
Drivers failing to give way for emergency vehicles put people’s lives in danger. Motorists should allow paramedics and rescue teams to do their work of saving lives.”
Major Abdullah Al Qubaisi,
head of the traffic control department, Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate
or taking pictures of accident scenes without permission and posting them on social media are violating the privacy law and will have to face legal consequences.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com