Dubai: If you happen to witness an accident in the UAE, make sure you alert the authorities on 999 and not crowd the place or park in the wrong places. This is because crowds around accident sites can make it harder for police and ambulance cars to reach the accident site on time.
Additionally, not giving way to emergency vehicles leads to a fine of Dh3,000, impounding the vehicle for 30 days, and imposing six traffic points on the licence of the vehicle owner.
On June 5, Abu Dhabi Police and Abu Dhabi Civil Defence warned people of the danger of crowding at accident sites, as it impedes the arrival of ambulances, emergency vehicles, traffic patrols and civil defence as quickly as possible to carry out their duties to provide assistance to the injured and save lives.
Fear of run-over accidents
The authorities also highlighted how crowding could also lead to additional accidents as motorists might try to step out of their cars to stand close to the accident site, or curious pedestrians might try to cross roads, oblivious to the movement of traffic, increasing the risk of run-over accidents.
Fine for crowding at accident site
According to Abu Dhabi Police, the fine for crowding at accident sites is Dh1,000.
Do not take photos and videos of accident sites
Along with warning people against crowding at accident sites, the police authority also stressed that filming traffic accidents, publishing photos or sharing them on social media is considered a crime, in accordance with the text of Article 197 (bis 2) of the Penal Code, which punishes imprisonment and a fine for anyone who uses a means of communication, information technology, or any other means to disseminate information or news, even if it is true.
Similarly, Abu Dhabi Police had earlier warned individuals that as per the UAE’s Cybercrime Law No. 5 of 2012, Article 21, anyone who uses an electronic device that invades a person’s privacy will be slapped with a fine of Dh150,000 to Dh500,000, and up to six months of imprisonment.
