In 2018, 358 drivers were fined by police for not giving way to emergency vehicles, unnecessarily adding time to their journey and delaying them from reaching the urgent incidents they were called out to.
As a result of this and in a continued effort to reduce deaths on the roads and improve traffic safety, the UAE Ministry of Interior (MoI) has updated the law, that will see the penalty given for offences like this increase from a fine of Dhs 1,000 and six black points, to a fine of Dhs 3,000 and the car impounded for one month. The update law comes into effect in 1 July.
MoI will conduct civil patrols to monitor violations against emergency and official vehicles, through its smart systems, road-mounted cameras and patrol vehicles, to ensure the safety of the general public and enable them to reach their desired locations as quickly as possible.
“Some reckless drivers don’t understand the importance of quick response to emergency situations. As many as 358 drivers were fined last year for not giving way to emergency vehicles. That means 358 emergency cases were delayed,” said Major-General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Head of the Federal Traffic Council and assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Operations Affairs, “Every second matters when it comes to saving lives. It is important drivers give way to emergency vehicles as soon as they hear the siren or see the flashing light.”
A one-month campaign will be run that aims to raise awareness on the importance of giving way to emergency services.