UAE | Traffic and Transport

Police target drivers who use hard shoulder

Police on Monday launched a week-long road safety awareness campaign against driving on the hard shoulder.

  • By Mohammed N. Al Khan, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:51 June 15, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit:

Dubai: Police on Monday launched a week-long road safety awareness campaign against driving on the hard shoulder.

Dubbed as "Over-passing the Hard Shoulder is An Uncivilised Behaviour", the campaign, will run up to June 22 and will be targeting young drivers.

"We have launched this campaign after noticing an increase in traffic collisions resulting from violation of driving on the hard shoulder," said Lieutenant Colonel Arif Mohammad Bu Shagar, Director of Al Qusais Police Station.

Statistics show an increase in the number of violations with many resulting in collisions.

There were 12,450 violations involving driving on the hard shoulder in 2007 and 12,612 cases were logged in 2008.

"Collisions from these violations have resulted in serious injuries and even death. We had three fatalities last year and this year a pedestrian walking on the hard shoulder was run over and killed," said Bu Shagar.

Violators face a Dh600 fine and six black points on their driving license.

"The problem with this violation is that once a driver commits it everyone else follows them onto the hard shoulder," he explained.

What do you think are the main reasons behind some drivers' insensitive behaviour on the road? What other traffic violations do you notice happening in the UAE?

Your comments


It is not only the young drivers, they have other more serious problems before driving on the hard shoulder. I see it every day. It's the people who think they are special.They don't need to wait in the Queue like everyone else. They know its wrong, very bad Road manners but they don't care either. The Police can't be everywhere all the time. The penalty for this has to be increased, although 6 Black points is a good start, increase the fine significantly.
Chris Hill
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 16:26

Traffic laws should be applied on everyone equally!!
Karim
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 16:24

I face almost everyday this menacing act from the drivers driving luxury cars and 4 wheels who are just giving light and horn to scare you to give them way and change the lane. If you don't give them way then they take it as offence by having false notion of owning the roads. This happens even if you are on fast lane and maintaining the speed of 100 which is fixed to be the maximum. I have been faced many a times that these people change lane and come in front of you and all of a sudden decrease the speed so that you hit them form behind in fast lane.They do it just to bully you for not giving them side
Ejaz Ahmad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 15:34

Well the hard shoulders should not be the one alone targeted. its because of the people who forces us to do the hard shoulders as they use to drive extremely fast and then flashing wildly to the drivers ahead of us. in this they use to come less than a meter near to our vehicle to scare us. Moreover they use to come ahead of us and they apply hard braks now in this scenario what would a new driver or a normal person do . They don't have any other choice but to change lanes abruptly. I think this should be considered while checking the driving violations.
Umair Amin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 15:32

If you follow the rules in the road, driving is easy for every driver. We can find out a person's character through his driving.
Shibu John
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 15:26

Something that infuriates drivers is when other drivers come up from behind
Graham Leschke
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 15:14

Driving on the hard shoulder is a common sight in the daily Sharjah-Dubai trip. As mentioned in the article, if one does it, everyone follows him/her and is a very frustrating thing. These drivers don't believe in any sort of discipline and blatantly disregard those who wait patiently in lines. They think they are smart and hold huge egos. What they don't realize (or rather ignore) is that fact that they cause the traffic jams, fury among those who wait and eventually accidents. Egos get bigger with the size of the vehicle, I think 4x4 drivers being the main culprits. Those who decide to abide the laws, please continue doing so and hope that one day these people learn their lessons.
Shameel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 15:11

The police should incorporate more static cameras in Duabi (and the rest of the UAE for that matter) to catch people doing this type of inconsiderate driving (plus many other offences that could be caught with static cameras). Once enought black points have been given to drivers their licences should then be taken away for a period of time, they should then have their insurer notified so that their premium goes up - this should be applied to EVERYONE!
Ben
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 13:16

The insensitive behavour on the roads seems to stem from: *Poor understanding of rules and regulations including speed limits and lane protocol (and the driver not thinking it applies to him). *Frustration from other road users not driving in a sensible manner (incorrect use of overtaking lanes, slow drivers in inappropriate lane etc.) *Lack of understanding on road conditions (wet / foggy / congestion at rush-hour). *Apparent arrogance of some drivers with powerful cars. *Poor level of driving competence (lack of indication when changing lanes / no checking in morrors when moving out / accross leading to an apparent lack of courtesy for other road-users. All of the above (and more) leads to a collective tension on roads, not a condusive atmosphere for hundreds of tons of metal moving at 100kph+.
Rob
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 13:15

I strongly reject somee of the opinion, as people mentioned we got scared while driving, I can say those are people who would have got more training before getting the D.Lic as a driver should not b confuse aswel get scared while other Maneuvers, he should have better controll on his vehicle only. At the sametime when one is crossing the speed limit on fast lane the other is allowing him to cross is again unethical also as no one is having right to block except the law. People will do Maneuvers only when people blocks them I request if you are slow drivers plz remain in slow tracks and do not intensionally block the others.
Emran Shah
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 13:15

I don't know why people are not taking care of their life when everyday i am coming through Dubai Pass there are lot of drivers who are going more than 140 they shoud consider that there are some depends praying for your life and waiting for your return.
Mohammad Atta Ur Rahman
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 13:09

Give violators a hefty fine and send them to months of safety classes at their expense.
Wanda
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 13:07

Driving on hard shoulders has become a common scene every day on the Sharjah Ring road during peak hours in the morning. You may notice complete lane has been formed by these drivers driving on hard shoulders. Police need to take stringent actions to curb this.
Durai
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 13:03

I think it needs to be widened to the fact that many people using shortcuts over petrol stations for example like in front of Greens junction. This behavior is also stupid. Why the streets are blocked? Because of that people. Btw...that are not only young people who do that, all ages! Guys, start thinking before driving!
Thomas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 12:58

I walk several times on the hard shoulder of busy roads,like Beirutstreet. When there is a traffic jam before a trafficlight, many "cheaters" use the hard shoulder and the line-up for going to the right to overtake the cars and skip back to the left on the very last moment. Last week a car smashed his side mirror on my shoulderbag!! I tried to write his licence plate,but he was speeding too fast. All I know it was a Nissan Maxima from Sharjah. Hope next time I am succesfull in reporting to Police!!
Hans
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 12:48

Its just normal for people to take easy alternative ways to reach their destination, we cannot blame them for their rash behavior. All we can do is follow what you think is right and its your fate if you get caught while driving in the hard shoulder.
swarup roy
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 12:45

Hard shoulder driving is a very common case while climbing up National Paints bridge.As many mentioned reckless egoistic drivers coming at 160 speed flashing lights right from 500 metres ditance behind you and scaring off drivers who is infact driving at permitted and allowed speed.Would like to see some quick measure from authority to fix this especially This is a killer attitude from such reckless drivers and its the innocents who is being risked for his life.We also see quite a number of luxurious sporty cars/4 wheels with fancy 3/4 digits number plate being ridden on road to cause threat and have no pity or sentiment for human life.
Vijay
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 12:41

Driving in Hard Shoulder is common in Dubai. I saw everyday in Emirates Road/Al-khail Road. Police should give heavy fine for this offences 1. Trucks approaching very close to the vehicles infront and making scare [very very usual in emirates/al-khail road] 2. Using Flashing lights 3. Overspeeding Each accidents in dubai happening is careless..and misbehavior
Rojie
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 12:25

I dont know what happens when a person passes his driving test, he behaves totally opposite and makes all traffic violations, plz adhere to the basic what was taught to you during your driving training sessions and please dont disturb other drivers by your senseless driving skills.
Shiva Kumar Alkod
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 12:10

This is an act of reckless driving and reckless drivers should be dealt with with an iron fist. They should be given higher fines and should go on training/seminar to enlighten them and refresh their minds on the dangers of reckless driving. They should also get psychiatric exams because I believe that reckless driving is a mental disorder. RTA and the police should also focus on drivers who love to tailgate especially those drivers with SUV's!
Lester
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 11:57

People now a days have lack of patience everyone starts at last minute n want to reach the destination of 10 minutes in less than 5 mins driving recklessly as road warriors, people do not follow rules now a days, which was not the case when i came to abudhabi 9 yrs back, now everyone is in a hurry,line which has only one lane for u or left turn turns into 2 to 3 line n the people who really follw r in the queue for their turn has to wait becoz people do not have road manners also police has to look into it n use more effective measures for it.
Nazneen Khan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 11:14

I was in traffic when i got an urgent call so i decided to answer the call on the hard shoulder and the moment i turned BANG a guy wrecked my car and guess what i am pretty lucky to be alive now.
Shaikh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 11:12

Selfishness to begin with is one of main reasons behind many accidents. Many drivers think they own the road. Consideration of others is an essential ingredient for safe driving. Many speed up if they see someone try to change a lane and get in front of them or come out of a side-road. This action causes the person trying to get in make dangerous maneuvers or else they don't stand a chance of getting in most of the time. Those who change lanes without signaling are the next worst offenders, and this too is a common occurrence since of late. Dubai needs more undercover Police patrolling its streets issuing tougher penalties, I think that would be a good way.
Jennifer Grebe
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 10:51

Driving on the hard shoulder; Lieutenant Colonel Arif Mohammad Bu Shagar said "The problem with this violation is that once a driver commits it everyone else follows them onto the hard shoulder". Exactly it is fact. Daily I am finding lot of people without indicator changing lane as well as zig zag driving. It is increasing our mind stress.
Razack
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 10:39

patience is the keyword, they don't have much of that on the roads in Dubai.Not knowing the traffic rules is another thing lots of people don't know.If there is one lane for turning left or right people make it into a second or even third lane. For me its showing no respect for others in traffic.I see more violations but this list is way too long for in here.
Anne Verhoeve
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 10:21

LACK of Discipline;as simple as that!They dont understand that the moment you enter your car and start driving you got a huge responsibility on your shoulder.No matter what kind of systems the authorities are implementing on the road but still the drivers are not following it;that will be useless!As we all know;before you got your UAE licence you are undergoing schooling but still why we have too much careless and irresponsible drivers?So, the bottom line here are the individual drivers who only know how to drive but taking responsibility in driving are not on their list.
Alvin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 08:55

I got fined Dh600 and 6 black points for this offence, I stupidly followed others and got caught. Never again, but it infuriates me to see others blatently committing the same offence and getting away with it.
Patricia Wyatt
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 16, 2009, 08:29

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