Cousins killed in crash on Tarif-Sweihan highway

Abu Dhabi: Two youngsters were killed in a crash along the Tarif-Sweihan highway on Tuesday, an Abu Dhabi police spokesman told Gulf News.

The Emiratis, aged 14 and 21, were cousins and were identified as A.R and B.R.

Preliminary reports suggested that the accident occurred due to unsafe driving in foggy weather conditions, and a lack of attention to the road. As a result, the police have launched a campaign to warn drivers about the dangers of fog on the roads.

The police spokesman, who asked not to be named, said: "The car crashed into a truck from behind."

The incident happened around 12.30am on Tuesday, he said. "It was a tragic death ...," he said. He made a heartfelt plea for drivers to abide by traffic rules and regulations at all times to prevent such unfortunate incidents.

"Any mistake on the road could not only cost your own life but also endanger the lives of other road users," the official said.

Social networking sites

Major General Mohammad Bin Al Awadi Al Menhali, Acting Director-General of Police Operations at Abu Dhabi Police, said police would reach out to the public through the Abu Dhabi police website, plus social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, to teach drivers about the risks of driving in foggy conditions.

"During dense fog drivers must reduce speed," he said. "Turn on the headlights but use only low beam since high beams reflect off the water droplets in the fog, reducing the visibility."

If visibility is very low, drivers must stop the vehicle off the road, he said. He also urged motorists to monitor weather forecasts before embarking on long journeys.

Print and audio-visual media would also be published in Arabic, English and Urdu to help get the message across about safe driving to the public.

Earlier this year the traffic department at the interior ministry said traffic deaths across the UAE had dropped by 21 per cent in the first half of 2010, compared to the same period last year.

Safe driving tips

Dos:

• Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions.
   
• Use your low-beam headlights.
   
• If you have fog lights, use them, in addition to low beams.
   
• Be patient. Avoid passing, changing lanes and crossing traffic.
   
• Use pavement markings to help guide you. Use the right edge of the road as a guide, rather than the centre line.
   
• Increase your distance with the vehicle ahead.
   
• Keep looking as far ahead as possible.
   
• If the fog is too dense to continue, pull completely off the road and try to position your vehicle in a protected area from other traffic. Turn on the hazard lights.

Don'ts:

• Don't drive with your hazard lights continuously on and flashing.
   
• Don't stop on the road. You could become the first link in a chain-reaction collision.
   
• Don't speed up suddenly, even if the fog seems to be clearing.
   
• Don't speed up to pass a vehicle moving slowly.

Source: Ministry of Interior