Road rage lands man in Dubai jail

Dubai: A chief traffic prosecutor has warned that what might be treated as rudeness in some countries is an offence here after a court jailed a suspect for a road rage incident.

"What is considered to be rude driving behaviour [such as flashing a finger or cursing someone] in their countries, is considered an offence in the UAE ... the UAE hosts drivers of many nationalities and cultures, hence everyone who drives here must be understanding and even-tempered.

"They must avoid clashing with others and being involved in road rage incidents," said Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai's Traffic Public Prosecution.

His warning followed a Dubai Court of First Instance ruling in which a 28-year-old American visitor was sentenced to three months in jail.

The Public Prosecution charged the American, Y.A., with flashing his middle finger and cursing an Emirati employee following a road rage incident.

The accused was also charged with repeatedly punching the 24-year-old victim, K.A., who sustained a 7 per cent permanent disability in his nose.

K.A. testified: "I was driving home and moved from one lane to another when the accused got outraged. He hysterically blew his horn and then flashed his finger... I pulled over to see what was his problem. He walked towards me and cursed me in English saying 'the road isn't yours' and abused me. I put my hand on his shoulder and asked him to watch his tongue. Then he repeatedly punched me and pushed me towards the ground. I fell and hit the concrete barrier. He also kicked my vehicle."

"Road users should be aware that there are motorists of different nationalities and we live in a desert country... I call on drivers not to get into an argument when others are at fault such as cutting them off or giving them a high beam or behaving rudely. When other drivers are at fault, you should remain calm and handle the situation in a civilised manner," said Bu Farousha.

Y.A. denied his charges and pleaded not guilty. His lawyer told the court: "My client is innocent... he couldn't have behaved in that manner in front of his family who were travelling in his car."

Have your say
Have you ever been a victim of road rage? What techniques do you use that help you stay calm while commuting? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com