Dubai: The police in Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah have urged motorists to exercise utmost caution as rain hit many parts of the UAE today.
Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Director of the General Traffic Department at Dubai Police, called on drivers to be alert on the roads due to inclement weather.
He urged drivers to follow all preventive measures, fully adhere to traffic laws and regulations, reduce speed and leave a sufficient safety distance between vehicles. He also warned against distracted driving, talking on phones, lsudden lane change and reckless driving in general. He said motorists should abstain from taking photos and videos while driving.
He urged drivers to use warning signals in case of a vehicle breakdown, and to move the vehicle to the hard shoulder of the road to avoid obstructing traffic or causing traffic accidents. He also urged drivers not to use hazard lights except in the event of an emergency.
He noted the importance of being cautious and reducing speed on external roads, in addition to checking the safety of all parts of the vehicle, including its engine, tires, brakes, windshield wipers and lighting. He also warned against sudden stops without giving appropriate signals and use of seat belts.
He called on vehicle drivers to use windshield wipers while driving on the road to prevent accumulation of water that obstructs vision, and to get rid of the mist that accumulates on the windows.
He explained that the law can punish drivers who drive their vehicles in a manner that exposes the life of the driver or the lives of others to danger. In these cases, the drivers will be stopped and their vehicles impounded. They will then be referred to the judiciary for legal action.
Sharjah Police warning
In Sharjah, the police also advised people to be careful while driving in the rain.
Moderate to heavy rain was experienced in different parts of the Central and Eastern Region of Sharjah on Tuesday. In view of the inclement weather, Sharjah Police have urged motorists to exercise caution while driving.
They have advised motorists to take all possible precautionary measures and be careful while driving. They urged motorists and heavy vehicle drivers to abide by the rules and pull over to the road shoulder if visibility is poor. Residents were also asked to stay away from dams, valleys and flooded areas.
Alert in RAK
The Ras Al Khaimah Police have also urged motorists to drive with utmost caution amid changing weather in the emirate.
Police said southern areas of the emirate are especially vulnerable to heavy rainfall and strong winds, and as such, motorists would do well to drive with caution and avoid valleys, dams and areas prone to flooding.
Ras Al Khaimah Police also urged residents to be “extra cautious and co-operate with traffic police.”
Municipality contingency plan
Meanwhile, Dubai Municipality posted on their social media platform saying that Dubai Municipality is ready to deal with rainwater accumulation and provide a field team to immediately respond to any emergencies.
Sharjah Municipality also activated its rain emergency plan to deal with weather fluctuations.
