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29 March 2024

Wait even when Dubai traffic signal turns green

Motorists caught stopping in the yellow box at traffic junctions face a fine of Dh500. (File)

Published
By Vicky Kapur

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is warning drivers in Dubai to wait and check to ensure that it is safe to drive ahead even after the traffic signal turns green.

The RTA advisory comes a day after Dubai Police announced that it has introduced a new highly advanced radar that can monitor road shoulder violation. The radar’s first prototype recorded 134 violations on Emirates Road in a matter of just two hours.

The RTA has said that will be reopening three U-turns in the Marina area next month, and is advising drivers to be careful of the incoming tram even if the traffic signal is green.

Dubai’s traffic agency will be making life easier for Dubai Marina commuters when it reopens the U-turns at Al Marsa-Al Saroya, Al Marsa-Al Sufouh, and Al Marsa-Al Sharta intersections in June.

“Enjoy the convenience but please pay attention to tram safety too,” the RTA says as it issues a three-step advisory for Dubai drivers.

- Keep an eye on the tram safety signs as you approach the turn

- Make sure the traffic light for the U-turn is green before you turn

- Look both ways for the tram before moving

Dubai Tram network covers a distance of 10.6km with 11 stations distributed over the congested areas.

Dubai Tram is considered as the first outside Europe working on underground power supply all over the track without the need of wires to feed it with electricity.

In the past too, Dubai Police and the RTA have warned drivers of the dangers of shooting off the green signals without making sure that the exit is clear. In October 2015, Dubai Police ran a campaign to educate motorists about the dangers of stopping in the yellow box at traffic junctions.

It advised motorists to exercise caution while entering the yellow box junction when the traffic light signal is green, and only enter when the exits are clear so as not to lead to unnecessary traffic jams.

Motorists caught stopping in the yellow box at traffic junctions face a fine of Dh500.

In addition, life for errant motorists is going to get tougher with Dubai Police’s new radars that will catch hard shoulder violations.

Major General Khamis Mattar Al Muzainah, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said on Monday that Dubai Police plans to install 20 radars on Emirates Road to prevent hard shoulder violations.

Al Muzainah said drivers committing hard shoulder offences will face 30-day vehicle impoundment, a fine of Dh600 and have six black points on their driving licences.

A driver’s licence is revoked for a year if the number of black points on their licence exceeds 24 points.