Twenty-five people were injured when three vehicles crashed into a bus that stopped suddenly on a road in Dubai, prompting authorities to issue a safety warning.
Dubai Police said two buses and a car were involved in a rear-end collision with the bus, which had come to a halt on Jebel Ali Road because of a technical fault. The force said those involved in the crash, who sustained a range of serious to minor injuries, were taken to hospital for treatment. The date and time of the incident was not disclosed.
Police stressed the dangerous consequences of stopping in the middle of the road. They emphasised it was the responsibility of drivers to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before setting off on journeys.
Police said the drivers of the three vehicles were unable to avoid the collision owing to negligence and a lack of attention.
Brig Essam Al Awar, acting director of Dubai Police's General Department of Traffic, said stopping in the middle of the road could have deadly consequences. He urged motorists to contact the police if their vehicle breaks down and cannot be moved, to allow for assistance to be provided quickly.
Drivers who stop in the middle of the road can face fines of Dh1,000 ($272) and have six black points added to their licence. An additional Dh500 penalty can be imposed for obstructing traffic.
Traffic accident investigation teams were sent to the scene to of the accident. “Patrols regulated traffic flow and secured the site to facilitate rescue vehicle access, while work teams removed the damaged vehicles to restore normal traffic flow,” Brig Al Awar said.
Stay safe on the roads
The senior officer said if a vehicle suffers a breakdown or is involved in an accident and the driver cannot move it off the road, they must take steps to help prevent further incidents.
“These measures include activating hazard warning lights ... placing a warning triangle behind the vehicle at a safe distance where possible to alert approaching drivers, leaving the vehicle entirely and moving to a safe location away from the road and finally contacting the police," he said.
Deadly dangers
The serious road accident occurred only weeks after seven people were killed and nine injured when a minibus collided with a lorry on Dubai's Emirates Road. The lorry stopping abruptly following a minor accident, a police official said at the time.
The case highlighted the perils of stopping on the road and failing to maintain focus when behind the wheel. Police said the minibus driver had not left a safe distance between his vehicle and other motorists, causing them to crash into the back of the lorry.
