Abu Dhabi: Drivers who are involved in incidents without injuries are urged to keep their vehicles off main roads in a bid to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and to prevent congestion, the Ministry of Interior said on Wednesday.
Police made this announcement in light of a new law that will fine those who violate this instruction as of September 15 this year.
According to Brigadier Gaith Hassan Al Za’abi, Director-General, Traffic Coordination Department, Ministry of Interior, the federal traffic law states that in cases where no physical injuries are caused, drivers involved in traffic accidents must stop their vehicles in the nearest spot where there is no hindrance to traffic. Failing to do so will make the parties subject to a violation for ‘obstruction of traffic’.
Police also revealed that motorists who have been leaving their cars on main roads have also been the cause of further accidents and traffic congestion. Additionally, some drivers on the same side of the road or opposite may stop in order to take pictures or see what is happening on the scene.
Such behaviour was seen on Wednesday when a vehicle caught fire on Salam Street near the Sea Palace on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai Road. Cars on the opposite side of the accident were slowing down to take a look at the fire, causing traffic to slow down on both sides of the road.
Earlier, Gulf News had reported an incident that took place last year when a man was killed while changing his car’s tyre on a highway instead of stopping on the shoulder of the road to do this.
