ABU DHABI // Drivers were warned yesterday that they must carry a fire extinguisher in their cars from September 1 or face being fined.
Abu Dhabi Police began an advertising campaign, entitled Our Goal is Your Safety, explaining that the move is to ensure the security and safety of society.
The ad states that all light or heavy vehicles must have a valid fire extinguisher in them at all times to avoid a fine.
Police were unavailable for comment but a Ministry of Interior representative indicated that a more detailed announcement would be made within the coming weeks.
It was also unclear how much the fine for offenders would be and whether it is a national campaign or one that just concerns Abu Dhabi.
Fire extinguishers cost between Dh79 and Dh159 depending on their size and type. They are available from most hardware shops and the smallest types, which are commonly found in cars, weigh about 1.5kg.
The campaign is now being publicised in newspapers and online, through the Abu Dhabi Police Facebook and Twitter pages.
The announcement came after the Ministry of Interior launched its third traffic awareness initiative for 2013, in a bid to improve overall road safety.
According to state news agency WAM, the initiative is called A Summer without Accidents and will last until September 1.
Brigadier Gaith Hassan Al Za'abi, the director general of the Traffic Coordination Department, said: "Its key objective is to educate motorists on the need to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their vehicles; perform regular maintenance and check the validity of the vehicles' tyres, to maintain their own safety."
He indicated that more than 20 agencies and partners were involved in the scheme to limit deaths and accidents on the roads.
Despite the efforts of authorities to tackle road issues, it still remains a significant "source of concern" and action will continue to be taken to tackle the problem, the ministry noted.
ksinclair@thenational.ae
