Dubai Municipality's Roads Department is conducting a three-day survey among motorists from tomorrow on the "yellow box" markings at major junctions in a bid to investigate the extent of visibility, public awareness, understanding and usage of the box.

The move comes prior to a strict enforcement of a penalty if a motorist enters the yellow box when the exit is not clear.

Dubai Municipality has painted 50 junctions and is planning to mark more junctions that see snarl-ups due to motorists' disregard for the yellow box. These junctions are concentrated mainly in the business districts of Deira and Bur Dubai.

Nasser Ahmed Saeed, Director of the Roads Department at Dubai Municipality, said the survey will focus only on those junctions where motorists can be interviewed without disrupting traffic.

"The yellow marking at junctions warns drivers that they must not enter the box unless the exit is clear. Drivers who enter the box when other stationery vehicles prevent them from leaving the junction, are committing an offence and can be penalised," he said.

"In order to strictly enforce the law in coordination with Dubai Police, the Roads Department is carrying out the survey to ascertain whether the current features of yellow boxes and the adjoining signs are adequate to warn motorists or need improvement," he said.

The questionnaire to be filled in by the drivers will ascertain whether or not the marking width of the boxes and the sign at stop lines is adequate and is visible to drivers from the stop line.

Saeed said the survey is aimed at identifying deficiencies and finding out motorists' observation, understanding and respect for these markings and signs.

Opinions and suggestions by motorists will be taken into account to better the system.

"We request motorists to cooperate with officials carrying out the surveys by giving satisfactory answers."