96 vehicles crash in UAE foggy weather
Low visibility results in 23 injuries on Abu Dhabi-Al Ain road Saturday morning
Abu Dhabi: Around 23 people were injured in four accidents involving a total of 96 vehicles on the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain road on Saturday morning as a result of low visibility during foggy weather, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced today.
Brigadier Khalifa Mohammad Mubarak Al Khaili, Deputy Head of the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate who reviewed the scenes, said that as soon as the report reached authorities, a number of vehicles were dispatched to the locations to prevent any more incidents from occurring.
Traffic was then diverted towards Sweihan and flow was supervised and accident remnants were removed off the road.
The first incident involved five vehicles on the Al Sad Sweihan bridge roundabout and the bigger second one saw 69 cars which crashed in the same area towards Abu Dhabi.
The third incident occurred among eight and the fourth among 14 cars in Busamra bridge towards Al An. The official noted that all victims were transported to Tawam Hospital to receive the necessary medical attention. Around 18 of those had already left the facility while five remain there to complete their treatment.
nvestigations are on going to find out more about the incidents.
The official urged motorists to abide by traffic rules, to reduce speeds and keep a safe distance among vehicles especially during turbulent weather adding that drivers should stop on the side of the road in case visibility was highly compromised.
He also advised that they remain cautious over the next few days due to the possibility of fog and heavy rains. Finally, Al Khaili warned against using hazard lights when vehicles are moving and to take precautionary methods to ensure their safety.
Dos:
- Slow down gradually in foggy conditions and drive at a speed that suits the conditions.
- Make sure your vehicle’s lights are turned on.
- Use your low beam headlights. High beams reflect off the moisture droplets in the fog, making it harder to see.
- If you have fog lights on your vehicle, use them, in addition to your low beams. They could save your life.
- 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 following distance. You will need extra distance to brake safely.
- Look and listen for any hazards that may be ahead.
- Reduce distractions in your vehicle. For example, turn off the cell phone — your full attention is required for driving.
- Look out for any electronically operated warning signs.
- Keep looking as far ahead as possible.
- Keep your windows and mirrors clean. Use your defroster and wipers to maximise your vision.
- If the fog is too dense to continue, pull completely off the road and try to position your vehicle in an area away from other traffic. Turn on your emergency (hazard) lights.
Don’ts:
- Don’t stop directly 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. You could find yourself back in fog.
- Don’t speed up to pass a vehicle moving slowly or to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
- Before you drive, and during your trip, check weather forecasts and road reports. If there is a weather warning or reports of poor visibility and driving conditions, delay your trip until conditions improve, if possible.
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