Abu Dhabi police drive to ensure accident-free Ramadan in capital

Abu Dhabi — The Traffic and Patrols Directorate at the Abu Dhabi Police will be launching a comprehensive initiative to ensure traffic safety on internal and external roads across the emirate during Ramadan.

The move is aimed at reducing the causes that may lead to traffic accidents, provide awareness and guidance, and assist all road users in order to achieve accidents-free roads during the holy month.

Lt-Colonel Mohammed Al Shehhi, Chief of Traffic Control Section at the directorate, urged drivers to drive in a civilised manner; avoid reckless behaviour and excessive speed; abstain from parking their vehicles randomly in front of mosques during prayers; refrain from blocking exits and parking entrances, or impede the movement of vehicles by parking close behind them,  as this will cause traffic congestion.

He called on drivers to abide by the traffic laws and to avoid speeding, especially before the Maghrib prayer, when drivers tend to increase their speed as they try to reach their homes before Iftar. He also urged motorists to use their seatbelts, avoid the use of hand-held phones while driving, and urged them to use indicator lights and pay attention before turning right or left.

He also stressed the importance of reducing speed when approaching places designed for pedestrian crossing and to give pedestrians right of way.

He urged pedestrians to cross the road safely by using the designated pedestrian crossings and understand the risks of potential run-over accidents; abstain from standing too close to the road in order to cross before making sure that traffic came to a halt. He stressed the need for caution when boarding or disembarking public transport vehicles to avoid run-over accidents.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com