UAE | Traffic and Transport

128 Abu Dhabi motorists fined for driving below speed limit

Official cites potential to cause crashes or create traffic jams

Staff Report
Published: 00:00 May 27, 2012

Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
Driving slower than the minimum speed limit causes traffic jams and crashes.

Abu Dhabi :Police in Abu Dhabi issued 128 tickets to motorists last year for driving below the minimum speed limit.

Driving slower than the minimum speed limit causes traffic jams and crashes, Brigadier Hussain Al Harithi, Director of the Traffic and Patrol Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, said in a statement yesterday.

"Such drivers expose themselves to dangers."

He said those motorists who were issued tickets for not maintaining a minimum speed were fined Dh200. Al Harithi urged drivers not to drive below the minimum limit on a particular road.

He said the Ministry of Interior has launched an awareness campaign. As part of the ministry's "Until When" campaign, the official appealed to motorists to avoid traffic accidents and urged them to respect the designated speed limits.

He also said they should keeo their focus on the traffic and stay in the designated lanes.

Comments (36)

Added 19:41 May 27, 2012

I guess the minimum speed on SZR is 60. Dubai police shud start this practice too.

SAVIO, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

Added 19:32 May 27, 2012

Great law introduced by the Abu Dhabi Police!! I wish the Dubai and Sharjah Police inroduce this rule as well. Most traffic jams on UAE roads are not caused by signals, but by slow motorists. The Emirates Road near National Paints R/B, Sharjah in the morning is filled with traffic due to few slow cars who cause great inconvience to everyone. I urge the police to increase awarness about basic civil road sense and I also wish driving institutes would pay attention to this aspect during training.

Savio Lodh, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Added 19:24 May 27, 2012

7 deadly sins commited by motorists ...other than being too fast and using mobiles.... 1-Drivers changing lanes without indicating. 2-Drivers overtaking as soon as they indicate. 3-Drivers attempting to change lanes without checking the sides first. 4-TAXI drivers driving beyound speed limit. 5-TAXI drivers flashing at motorists on fast lane already driving at maximum speed. 6-Drivers and cabbies taking exits without indicating 7-Trucks and vans driving on fast lane either too fast or too slow. Should they even be there?? About time to reinforce rule that curbs inconsiderate driving. Even though I am a woman (in reference to some sexist commentators here), I drive on the maximum speed limit (which some colleagues think is too fast), but more often than not I get interrupted by slow drivers buffering what should be a smooth drive, irritating the heavens out of me.

DC, Dubai, Lebanon

Added 16:11 May 27, 2012

UAE Traffic laws should be VERY STRICT in imposing fines and penalties to motorists who are blatantly violating traffic rules and regulations. I have observed so many drivers who are suddenly changing lanes without using their indicator lights. This imposes danger on the following vehicle. Foe me, this is lack of respect for other motorists. I wish the authorities should do improvement or corrective actions on this issue the soonest possible time.

nelson, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Added 15:16 May 27, 2012

The Police always insist drivers to keep a 'safe distance' between cars..but does the majority of drivers in AD actually know what that means? I always try to give myself a safe braking distance between my car and the car in front but..guess what? There's always a idiotic driver who think he/she can squeeze themselves in the gap! One drivers understanding of 'safe distance' vary hugely in this country from another driver...whether it is one car width, 2 car width (depending on the speed done) or drive as close as possible and brake as late as possible!

Joanne, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Added 15:10 May 27, 2012

It was time for this to happen and for Police to action. "Curiosity kills" and people just slow down to watch accident (even minor ones) and lead to huge traffic jams. If you slow down to watch, will you be able to help? I don't think so, so why not move on and let other go to their work?

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 14:44 May 27, 2012

Its comman here in UAE that People slow down when merge to Highway instead of increase their speed to match highway speed and do not reduced speed on the ramp when exiting highway ........

Anonymous, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Added 14:12 May 27, 2012

Let us not be sexist. I agree the AD, young and Taxi drivers should be taught how to drive on the highways and to show signals when changing lanes. Secondly the fast lane is only for overtaking and police should be employed to ensure that. Thirdly - like the maximum, the minimum speed should also be indicated, just below the max speed. I feel that the drivers should only be issued with the driving licences, when they learn to respect other drivers and show the signals, when changing the lanes. Their licence should also be endorsed or cancelled for atleast one month, if they fail to show the signals.

Ghareeb, London, United Kingdom

Added 13:50 May 27, 2012

Authorities should also monitor the drivers who always giving head lights to vehicles in front of them in fast lane even they are driving at maximam speed limit of road. If they want side decently they should give left indicator. Drivers who drive vehicle above the maximum speed of road and flashing head lights to others shall be fined heavly.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 13:43 May 27, 2012

So... What is the minimum speed limit on a highway where the maximum speed limit is 120 km/h (but drivers do an average of 125 to 135)?

Alex, Dubai, United Arab Emirates