DUBAI // Drivers are being urged to be aware of what is going on around them and give way to emergency vehicles.
Dubai Police on Tuesday launched an awareness campaign about the issue, saying that there has been an increase in fines issued since 2013.
Brig Omar Al Shamsi, deputy director of the operations department, said 162 cases of people not giving way to emergency vehicles were recorded in 2015, an increase from 121 in 2014 and 81 in 2013.
“We are seeing an increase of such cases and we are sure to see an increase in 2016, and this is why we are hoping to raise awareness on the issue,” he said. “We need to make sure that motorists move out of the way when they see emergency vehicles, especially ambulances.
“When there is an incident, whether a fire broke out or in traffic, it is a matter of seconds, and not minutes, that saves a life.”
Brig Al Shamsi said police use patrol cameras to catch violators, who are fined Dh500 and incur four black points on their driver’s licence.
He also said that police have suggested to the Federal Traffic Council that the penalty be increased.
“We think that if there is a harsher penalty, then people will think twice before breaking the law,” said Brig Al Shamsi.
Dubai Police has agreements in place with Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services and with private hospitals to transport accident victims to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible.
“Previously, emergency cases were transferred to Rashid Hospital but we now have private hospitals that receive people involved in incidents close by,” said Brig Al Shamsi.
Khalifa bin Derai, executive director of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, said there have been cases of motorists getting in the way of ambulances operating at crash sites.
“We have had such cases and this not acceptable because we are talking about a person’s life here,” he said. “We had a case involving an Emirati man who was in his car following the ambulance transporting his mother when he realised it was going too slow.
“He then drove past the ambulance and saw a vehicle had been driving slowly and not allowing the ambulance to pass.”
Mr Derai said the man gestured to the slow driver to get out of the ambulance’s way but he gestured back in a manner of non-compliance and a “so what” attitude.
“We really hope that this campaign raises awareness, and people understand that it is a matter of life and death,” said Mr Derai.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
