Stopping on hard shoulder to pray: Dh1k fine

A day after Dubai Police officials warned motorists against stopping on the hard shoulders of roads to pray or eat, ‘Al Khaleej’ reports that fines for the same have now been announced.

Quoting Colonel Saif Al Mazroui, Director General, Dubai Traffic Police, ‘Al Khaleej’ reports that any driver who stops a vehicle on the hard shoulder to perform prayers or for any other purpose besides the breaking down of the vehicle can be fined Dh1,000 and even have his/her driving licence cancelled.

So far, 284 fines have been issued by Dubai Police since the beginning of this month, against buses that stopped on the hard shoulder of roads to perform prayers.

Twenty-eight buses have been impunded after their drivers repeatedly stopped on the hard shoulder.

Earlier report: Dubai Police have warned motorists against using the hard shoulders of roads for prayers, ‘Al Khaleej’ newspaper reports.

Maj. Gen. Khamis Mattar Al Mazina told ‘Al Khaleej’ that it has been observed that drivers of buses and private cars stop on the hard shoulder of the roads to perform prayers.

He pointed out it is very dangerous to use the hard shoulder for any purpose except when vehicles suddenly break down.

He stated that sudden deviation of any vehicle could be a disaster for persons praying or standing on the hard shoulder.

He said Dubai has mosques on all streets and areas provided with parking for cars.

He recalled an incident when the sudden deviation of a driver on the shoulder of the road led to a collision with youths who stopped to repair a vehicle there, and resulted in the deaths of four of them.

He also stated that buses stopped on the shoulder of the road for praying or eating which is also a serious danger.

Colonel Saif Al Mazroui, Director General, Dubai Traffic Police, revealed that the phenomenon of stopping on the shoulder of the road for prayers is not only on internal roads, but also on the Emirates and Mohammed Bin Zayed highways.

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