Driver dies after pickup hits him on road shoulder in Dubai

Dubai - He had stopped to change a tyre.

A driver, who was replacing his car’s burst tyres on the road shoulder on Sheikh Zayed Road, was killed after a pick-up truck hit him.

Colonel Juma Salim bin Suwaidan, director of the General Traffic Department of the Dubai Police, said that the accident took place at 7.30am on Sunday.

He said the deceased stopped his car on the road shoulder after one of its tyres got burst. He came out of the car to replace the tyre without taking any safety measures, said Col Juma bin Suwaidan, adding that he was hit by a pickup vehicle, resulting in his death.

Colonel Juma Salim bin Suwaidan warned against standing on the road shoulder or stopping vehicles without taking necessary safety measures.

“Motorists still don’t understand the purpose of the road shoulders. Standing on the road shoulder is one of the serious violations that result in serious accidents. There are traffic accidents almost every day due to vehicles stopping on the road shoulder,” he said.

“Road shoulder is reserved for exceptional emergency cases. Drivers are not supposed to stand on road shoulders for normal reasons, such as a tyre burst. In case of a tyre burst, the vehicle should be kept out of the road before the tyres are replaced,” he added.

amira@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai