Abu Dhabi
One of the busy crossroads in Abu Dhabi’s Zayed the First Street faces a lot of traffic on a daily basis and jaywalking, too. The steel barrier or fence on this road has a few gaps in between, which makes it easy for anyone to cross to the other side.
Every day, when passing by this area, I see a lot of pedestrians crossing the road without any hindrance, even though this is not the designated area for crossing. There is a pedestrian crossing a little further down, but people do not walk to it and instead, choose the shorter, but more dangerous route. They wait for the traffic to slow down before crossing the road illegally.
These pedestrians continue to display their ignorance, and need to be checked and disciplined. They need to be educated regarding the laws of the country. Strict fines and punishments should also be enforced on those who do not follow the rules. Additionally, the authorities should close off the gaps in the fence to stop these people from jaywalking. Then, they will use the designating crossing instead of risking their lives and the lives of the motorists. I hope the authorities will do the needful before someone meets with an accident.
— The reader is based in Abu Dhabi.
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FACTS:
According to a Gulf News report published in May, 2016, jaywalking on any road (excluding small roads in communities) from undesignated spots is a crime punishable by the UAE Traffic Law with a fine of Dh200.
Pedestrians have been advised to not cross roads with speeds of more than 80km/h because they could be held liable for any accidents.
