UAE: 35,000 fined for tailgating; police video highlights dangers

More than 35,000 motorists were fined on Abu Dhabi roads last year for tailgating.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Abu Dhabi Police said 35,073 violations had been registered against drivers for not leaving enough distance between vehicles.

The errant motorists were caught by traffic officers and smart radars. The police also shared a video that highlighted how dangerous the offence is and how it is caught by cameras.

In January last year, the police rolled out a new smart system that uses radars to catch tailgaters.

The new system detects the tailgaters for not leaving enough space between vehicles, and also the vehicle in front for not giving way to the speeding car on the first left lane (if driving too slow).

Both vehicles receive a fine of Dh400. The tailgaters get four traffic points as well.

According to new rules in the Capital, causing an accident due to tailgating leads to vehicle impoundment, in addition to a Dh5,000 fine.

“The driver's failure to leave a safe distance behind vehicles increases the risk of rear-end collisions as motorists may not be able to adequately control their vehicles in time if the driver ahead of them suddenly or unexpectedly stops,” the police said a statement.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai
• Abu Dhabi