Abu Dhabi Police clamp down on overloaded recovery vehicles

Fines of up to Dh3,000 for people transporting heavy equipment on flatbed loaders

Motorists have been warned not to break rules regarding towing vehicles. Abu Dhabi Police.
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Abu Dhabi Police are clamping down on people using towing vehicles for anything other than transporting cars, with people caught breaking the rules facing fines of up to Dh3,000 ($820).

Officers issued a warning about the “dangers of loading towing vehicles, known as recovery cars, with unsafe equipment".

Materials and tools should not be carried on flatbed loaders because they could endanger other motorists and damage road infrastructure.

“It is important that drivers of towing vehicles transfer cars only, and not use them for other purposes. There are special vehicles for carrying other kinds of equipment safely,” police said.

Vehicles that carry heavy machinery are licensed to move only at night and are designed to handle unwieldy equipment without compromising on safety.

Such vehicles and their loads should not exceed five metres in height, police said.

The loaded material must be also fixed and tied in a certain way to ensure it does not fall and endanger motorists.

"Police will increase inspection campaigns and catch violators," police said.

The punishment for driving an “unsafe heavy car” is a Dh500 fine. Motorists who use a vehicle for an unlicensed purpose are issued with a Dh300 penalty and four black points.

Anyone who loads a heavy vehicle that could endanger others on to a recovery car will receive a Dh2,000 fine and six black points.

If the rule-breaker is considered to be endangering his life as well as others, the fine is increased to Dh3,000.