The Traffic and Licensing Department of Abu Dhabi Police has issued a warning to private companies against using modified pickups and trucks for to transport their workers.

The Abu Dhabi Police General Directorate banned the use of modified pickups and trucks to carry workers last month, asking all the establishments to replace them with proper buses.

The Directorate gave them a six-month deadline to remodify the vehicles for them to come on the roads.

The Traffic Department also reminded them to implement the regulation or face punishment. The warning was issued by Lieutenant Colonel Ghaith Al Za'abi, Director of the Department in a statement issued yesterday.

"The companies should immediately stop transporting their workers in cargo trucks and pickups, which are not fit for carrying human beings and can be dangerous," Al Za'abi said.

"The regulation has been issued in the interest of workers and their safety as part of our security responsibility towards the people. Ferrying workers in pickups and trucks is extremely dangerous, therefore it has to stop."

All establishments are warned to remodify their vehicles by May when the deadline ends. "All modified vehicles have to be remodified to their original shape within six months. Otherwise, these vehicles will not be registered or licensed, and therefore not allowed to ply the roads."

He said the six-month deadline which began yesterday, has been introduced under the directives of Major General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Interior Ministry's Undersecretary.

The workers have welcomed the decision, mainly those working for the maintenance and construction companies.

Earlier, local authorities banned all such vehicles while entering the commercial areas of the capital.