Traffic jams and accidents are occurring daily on the Ras Al Khor Road because trucks are using it during peak hours despite a ban on heavy vehicles, say motorists.

Devadasan/Gulf News
Trucks in the fast lane on the Dubai-Hatta road in Al Aweer.

They have also said the lack of radar on the busy road is the main cause of speeding.

"I use this road every day and see trucks here at peak hours. They are the main cause of traffic jams in the evenings," said Abdullah Esmail Al Mazem, a 29-year-old UAE national.

"Many people prefer to use this open road to avoid traffic jams, but heavy trucks, sometimes overloaded ones, use it in peak hours and cause delays and accidents," said another motorist.

Ahmad Saeed, a UAE national, said: "Most problems on this road occur in the early mornings and late evenings. Heavy trucks keep zipping in and out of lanes and cause accidents. This is a busy road and the speed limits have to be posted here."

Motorists said Dubai Municipality should also change the timing between traffic signals on this road as they are not coordinated

One motorist who uses the road said the only time he had seen a radar was on a police vehicle.

"I think they were trying to track down speed violators," he said.

Husam Abbas, a 35-year-old UAE national, who works for the Department of the Environment at Dubai Municipality, said he was fed up with daily accidents on the road.

"I use this road and the Emirates Road regularly as my job requires checking them," he said.

He said people sped because they had nothing to fear as there was no radar there.

He said the other reason for accidents was that the speed limit was also higher at 140 km/h.

Muaz Mohammad, a 34 year-old Sudanese expatriate, said he was usually stuck in traffic jams right at the start of the road.

He said most of the trucks drove in the fast lane.

"Heavy vehicles should be taking the right lanes. I saw two accidents caused by speeding," he said.

A Dubai Municipality official said the Municipality had posted signs on the road that heavy vehicles could only use the road at certain times.