Hard shoulder violation is one of the most dangerous traffic violations in the UAE as it can cause fatal road accidents. The year 2016 was a bad year as the number of dangerous violations kept on mounting throughout the year. The number of road accidents got decreased in 2016, but the fatalities increased which remained a serious concern for traffic authorities in the UAE. The efforts of traffic authorities have been consistent though, which has certainly helped in improving road safety situation in 2017. A total of 1,839 hard shoulder violations have been recorded in first quarter of 2017 in the Sharjah as compared to 3,023 hard shoulder violations that were recorded in the same period in 2016.
Also read: 50 Deaths in 13 Months due to Run-Over Accidents in Sharjah
Official Statement about the Hard Shoulder Violations
While stating about the hard shoulder violations, the Deputy Director of the Traffic and Patrol Department, Colonel Dr Ahmad Saeed Al Naour advised motorists to strictly avoid the hard shoulder violations to maintain maximum road safety in Sharjah. According to him, the hard shoulder violations could seriously disrupt the flow of traffic as a result of collisions between multiple vehicles and could prove fatal for motorists. The significant drop in the number of hard shoulder violations from 2016 was deemed as a positive sign, but he emphasized on improving the road safety further to reduce this life-threatening violation to a bare minimum.
Reasons behind a Significant Drop in Hard Shoulder Violations
Traffic authorities have remained vigilant in improving the road safety situation in Sharjah and this is the fundamental reason behind a significant drop in hard shoulder violations in 2017. Other main reasons for the decrease in the violations include installation of new and advanced radars and other monitoring systems for improved surveillance on Sharjah roads. Increased patrolling and strict traffic fines have also discouraged the reckless and impatient motorists from committing hard shoulder violation.
Some of the recent initiatives launched by the UAE Government such as awarding prizes and giveaways to the most disciplined motorists (motorists who committed the least number of traffic violations in a year) have also played a part in making motorists more responsible and careful of their actions.
Also read: Traffic Problems in the UAE – A Roundup of 2016
Why Hard Shoulder Violations are Extremely Dangerous
The hard shoulder is a designated area on roads for emergency vehicles including ambulances, firefighter vehicles and Police vehicles. Any other type of vehicle is strictly prohibited from entering the hard shoulder as the emergency vehicles usually move at high speeds and any other vehicle obstructing their way could result in a massive collision causing injuries and deaths on the spot. The area designated as hard shoulder is usually highlighted with yellow marking indicating motorists to avoid entering the hard shoulder.
Penalties for Hard Shoulder Violations
There are strict penalties for hard shoulder violations in Sharjah and Colonel Dr Ahmad Saeed Al Naour reminded of these penalties while passing his remarks on this serious violation. A fine of AED 600 and 6 black points are the penalties for hard shoulder violation in Sharjah. Another serious traffic violation that is indirectly linked to the hard shoulder violation is not giving way to the emergency vehicles. Many errant drivers, who don’t give way to emergency vehicles become the reason for many dangerous road situations and disturb the flow of traffic. A fine of AED 500 and 4 black points is the penalty for not giving way to the emergency vehicles and 97 motorists were fined for this violation by Abu Dhabi Police in March.
Usually, the emergency vehicles move at a brisk pace to carry out their emergency/rescue services and not giving way to these vehicles or obstructing their way on the hard shoulder are serious violations all over the UAE. Avoiding these violations can save lives and also keep motorists away from serious penalties.
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