The National Centre of Meteorology has reported heavy rains, thunderstorms and hail in several parts of the country, forecast to persist tomorrow as well
File photo
As heavy rains hit all seven Emirates on Wednesday, motorists across the UAE reported being stuck in traffic jams. Police forces around the country have called on drivers to be extremely vigilant on the roads.
A road safety expert explained why traffic jams get worse during the rains. “When rain begins to fall, it mixes with the dust, grease and sand to make the roads extremely slippery. Drivers have to be extremely careful and drive slowly,” Thomas Edelman, managing director of Road Safety UAE, said.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) reported heavy rains, thunderstorms and hail in several parts of the country. The unstable weather conditions are forecast to persist tomorrow as well.
According to Edelman, one of the most contributing factors to traffic problems during unstable weather is the poor visibility.
“Whether it is rain, hail, fog or sandstorm, the one common denominator is the bad visibility,” he said. “Drivers have to adjust their attention based on this. They must slow down so that they have enough time and space to react in case of unexpected incidents on the road.”
Major-General Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, director of the General Department of Traffic at the Dubai Police, advised motorists to turn on low-beam headlights when visibility is reduced.
He also urged motorists to keep a sufficient, safe distance between vehicles, fasten seat belts, pay attention to the road and refrain from taking pictures or using handheld phones when driving.
Mohammed Sajjad, an avid rain chaser, said most of the accidents he has encountered during the rain were caused due to poor visibility. “Water is accumulated on the roads due to rain,” he said. “Due to limited visibility, the driver may not see the water and the vehicle slips. This is a major issue during the rainy weather. I advise all those who are driving in rainy conditions to slow down and drive carefully.”
Edelman also cautioned residents to be careful about aquaplaning. This is a phenomenon where water is built up between the tyre and road surface due to high speeds during rainy weather. It causes the tyre to lose contact with the road and the driver will no longer be able to control the vehicle with the steering wheel.
“This is an extremely dangerous situation and can cause very severe accidents,” he said. “It is one of the main reasons why drivers must slow down during the rainy weather.”
The Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah Police forces issued safety tips to follow while driving. Edelman also added a few of his own:
ALSO READ:
Nasreen Abdulla is a Special Correspondent covering food, tech and human interest stories. When not challenged by deadlines, you’ll find her pulling off submissions on the jiu jitsu mats.