New fines, guidelines: Abu Dhabi Police crackdown on emergency vehicle violations

Two weeks after the launch of the “Don’t Hesitate… Give Way Immediately” campaign by the General Command of Abu Dhabi Police and the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, officials report a notable increase in driver compliance across the emirate.

Traffic patrols on both internal and external roads have observed that the majority of motorists are responding positively to the initiative, which promotes quick and safe responses to emergency vehicles. The campaign is supported by artificial intelligence and interactive technologies.

The success of the campaign is credited to heightened visibility through active traffic patrols and widespread awareness signage. These efforts have helped integrate the campaign into drivers’ daily routines, encouraging swift and responsible reactions when emergency vehicles approach.

As part of its broad awareness strategy, Abu Dhabi Police deployed educational billboards and campaign visuals on trucks and major roads to ensure maximum outreach. They have also announced upcoming educational drives, guidance sessions, and digital workshops across multiple platforms.

On social media, Abu Dhabi Police are actively sharing high-quality visuals and audio content aligned with the campaign’s objectives. This includes dramatised scenarios and realistic simulations that demonstrate how timely driver action can save lives during emergencies.

Abu Dhabi Police urge all motorists to follow these six essential rules:

The “Don’t Hesitate… Give Way Immediately” campaign utilizes multilingual communication systems to ensure accessibility for all communities. Through its social media handle @givewayad, the campaign shares AI-powered educational videos, 3D awareness films, and animated clips in languages including English, Urdu, and Bengali. These explain how to correctly yield to ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks in various scenarios.

The campaign is designed to instill a sense of civic duty and social responsibility in drivers. Abu Dhabi is being positioned as a model city for safety and smart emergency response, and public cooperation is vital in achieving this goal.

Failure to yield to emergency vehicles is a serious violation under the new Federal Traffic Law and is punishable by:

Delays in clearing the path can result in delays in saving lives, extinguishing fires, or responding to emergencies.

The campaign will run for six months and is conducted in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Department of Municipalities and Transport, represented by the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility). It aligns with broader government goals to raise awareness about the importance of giving way to emergency responders.

According to the Ministry of Interior, 325 violations were recorded across the UAE in 2024 for failing to give way to emergency, ambulance, police, or official convoy vehicles:

Drivers who do not give priority to emergency or official convoy vehicles will face: