How to drive in fog… police advisory for UAE motorists

The Traffic and Patrols Directorate at the General Directorate of Central Operations of Abu Dhabi Police called upon drivers to remain cautious and reduce their vehicles’ speed in cases of low visibility due to fog and to drive cautiously at a speed that is appropriate for the prevailing circumstances.

The directorate also urged motorists to leave a sufficient safe distance between vehicles, refrain from overtaking other vehicles, to use the low-lights of the vehicle and to double the safety distance than they would under normal conditions.

Brigadier Khalifa Mohammed Al Khaiaili, Acting Director of the Traffic and Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, noted that the directorate reinforced control and surveillance procedures during foggy conditions.

“The directorate is also implementing an emergency plan in collaboration with the departments of civil defense, ambulance and rescue services, in order to promptly transfer the injured to hospitals; clear damaged vehicles off of the road; and divert traffic to other lanes in case of traffic accidents, especially with the foggy conditions that are set to continue for the next few days, according to the National Center for Meteorology’s forecasts”, he said.

Brigadier Al Khaiaili noted that the safety procedures during foggy conditions also include preventing trucks, heavy vehicles and workers’ buses from travelling on the road in foggy conditions until the fog clears.

The directorate has also called upon motorists to refrain from commuting on roads until horizontal visibility improves.

Moreover, Brigadier Al Khaiaili pointed out to the Traffic Law that “prevents trucks and heavy vehicles weighing 2.5 tons or more from using external and internal roads, and from entering Abu Dhabi City during foggy conditions and peak hours, until the fog clears.”

Brigadier Al Khaiaili called upon owners of workers’ transport companies to enhance traffic awareness among their drivers, by urging them to abide by traffic laws during the fog and to postpone their journeys in case of low horizontal vision until the fog clears out.

He also advised drivers not to use hazard lights during fog until they have come to a full stop on the right shoulder of the road.

“Drivers must reduce speed, increase the safety distance between vehicles and to refrain from overtaking other vehicles during foggy conditions due to poor visibility,” he concluded.

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