Changing lanes without using indicators is considered to be one of the most dangerous traffic violations in Abu Dhabi as it directly affects the road safety situation and depicts reckless driving behavior of motorists. It is a simple road safety practice that is often ignored by motorists who not only risk their own lives, but also jeopardize the safety of other commuters.
Motorists in Abu Dhabi have been repeatedly reminded by the traffic authorities to ensure that they don’t change lanes without using indicators because it can have a devastating effect on the smooth flow of traffic and can be a big safety hazard for all commuters.
Traffic Stats on Poor Lane Changing Since the Implantation of the New Traffic Law
The new traffic law was implemented in the UAE on July 1, 2017 with an aim to improve the road safety situation in the country. Most of the important rules associated with dangerous traffic violations were changed in the new traffic law while a number of new rules and violations were introduced. The traffic penalties for dangerous traffic violations were increased and the categorization criterion for these violations was revised. All these amendments were made to the traffic law in order to discourage motorists from committing driving mistakes that can have life-threatening consequences.
According to the traffic authorities in Abu Dhabi, 10,766 motorists were penalized for changing lanes without using indicators between July and December in 2017, which refers to a period of first six months after the implementation of the new traffic law. The numbers clearly suggest that reckless driving behavior of motorists remained a major concern for authorities in Abu Dhabi even after the implementation of the new traffic law. Lack of awareness about new traffic rules and poor understanding of safe practices for changing lanes have emerged as major reasons behind lane changing violations committed by motorists.
Also read: Traffic Penalties for Sudden Swerving and Poor Lane Changing in the UAE
Understanding Lane Changing Violations According to the New Traffic Law
Lane changing violations have continued to impact the road safety situation badly over the last few years. The new traffic law categorized the lane changing violations into two categories. After the implementation of new traffic law, motorists have been penalized for two types of lane changing violations that are:
- Changing lanes without using indicators
- Sudden lane change
Both of these violations have different traffic penalties and motorists can be penalized for both violations at a time as well. The penalty for changing lanes without using indicators is a fine of AED 400 while motorists can be penalized with a fine of AED 1,000 and four black points for “sudden lane change.”
This also means that motorists can face a fine of AED 1,400 for committing both of these violations at the same time.
#شرطة_أبوظبي تحذر من مخاطر الانحراف المفاجئ للمركبات أثناء القيادة على الطريق pic.twitter.com/H8Mb424A7f
— شرطة أبوظبي (@ADPoliceHQ) April 9, 2018
Also read: New Traffic Campaign Launched to Highlight the Risks of Sudden Swerving
How to Change Lanes Safely?
Changing lanes safely is not rocket science and it just needs a safe driving mindset and a proactive approach to comply with the lane change rules implemented in the UAE.
Here are some simple tips that elaborate how motorists should change lanes in Abu Dhabi:
- To change lanes safely, you should first adjust your rear-view mirror and side view mirrors carefully. Always make sure that you are aware of your blind spots before you start driving.
- Understand when you should change lanes and abstain from unnecessarily lane changing as it can disrupt the flow of traffic on a busy road. You should change your lane to overtake a vehicle that is moving along too slowly for a busy road. Be reminded that motorists can be charged with AED 400 fine for driving below the minimum speed limit of a road. You should also change lanes to give way to the emergency vehicles because it is not just a civic responsibility to give way to emergency vehicles, but also a traffic rule. Motorists can be penalized with AED 1,000 fine and six black points for not giving way to the emergency vehicles.
- Once you have clearly made your mind to change lanes, you should properly indicate to other motorists before moving to the other lane.
- While changing lanes, move your vehicle slowly and gradually to the other lane so that other motorists get sufficient time to either slow down or overtake your vehicle so you can easily shift to the other lane.
- Don’t forget to look over your shoulder for any vehicle that you have missed in the blind spots of your vehicle.
- Switch off the turn signal when you have completed your lane change.
- Repeat the same step-by-step procedure every time you need to change your lane on a busy road.
Also read: Understanding the Lane Assist Safety Technology
Bottom-line
Understanding one’s civic responsibility and staying alert at all times while driving are amongst the basic road safety protocols that all motorists should comply with. Authorities in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE have increased their efforts to discourage motorists from committing dangerous traffic violations in a bid to improve the road safety situation. Motorists must cooperate with the authorities as these road safety initiatives are taken for the well-being and benefit of motorists themselves.
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