Emergency responders in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates have a new way of moving on motorists who are blocking their way on roads.
A new initiative just announced by Dubai Police and Dubai Ambulance will allow emergency vehicles to get in touch with drivers via their car radio and instruct them to get out of the way.
Dubai Ambulance says that an ambulance arriving on the scene of an accident or some other crisis can mean the difference between life and death for some individuals and that even a minute can make a difference.
Motorists need to help emergency vehicles save lives by giving way the moment that they become aware of them, or after they have received an alert via their car radio.
Dubai Police also posted on social media site Twitter saying that a message telling drivers to give way as an emergency vehicle is approaching will be heard on the car radio of motorists who are blocking the path of emergency vehicles.
Motorists who fail to give way to official convoys or emergency vehicles can be fined up to as much as Dh3,000, penalised six black points, and even have their cars seized and impounded for as long as 30 days.
Motorists are also being advised to never follow emergency vehicles and avoid using road shoulders.
Drivers on the roads of Dubai should also avoid going over pedestrian crossing areas when approaching emergency vehicles are in sight.
The Dh3,000 fine for drivers who fail to give way to emergency vehicles was originally implemented three months ago back in July, having been increased from the previous fine of Dh1,000.
A month prior to that in June, the Ministry of Interior had announced that cameras connected to smart systems were to be placed in emergency vehicles to record motorists who refuse to move out of the way for them.
Dubai currently has 111 ambulance points, but difficult drivers can still prevent emergency vehicles from getting to their destination in time.
At the end of last month, the emirate also launched the ‘Give Way…Give Hope’ campaign to try to again educate drivers on their basic road responsibilities.
Right of way is at the heart of all motoring, and even more so in regard to emergency vehicles.
Right of way is also part of the basic subjects taught in both theory and practice in every driver training programme, including those taught in Dubai.
Anyone who drives on roads in Dubai or anywhere else in the UAE not only needs to be willing to instantly give way to emergency vehicles but must also have taken out car insurance coverage before getting behind the wheel.
Car insurance is a legal requirement for all drivers throughout the UAE, including Dubai.
Car insurance is also a great way for motorists to prevent financial disaster in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as accidents or their vehicle being stolen.