Anti- tailgating drive sees 750 fined in two days

ABU DHABI // Police fined 750 motorists in the first two days of a campaign against tailgating on the capital's roads. Most of the fines were issued on Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street and Mahawi Street - in the direction of Abu Dhabi - and other city streets, Lt Col Hamad al Ameri, the head of the traffic investigation section of the Abu Dhabi traffic and patrols department, said yesterday.

The majority were handed out during peak hours in the morning and around noon, Lt Col al Ameri said. The number of fines issued was more than double the 351 given out the previous month. Lt Col al Ameri said most of the motorists fined were young and were not keeping a safe distance from vehicles ahead of them, annoying other drivers and creating a major risk on the road. Sixteen unmarked police cars are patrolling the roads as part of the "Leave Space Before it is Too Late" campaign, which began on Sunday. The number of officers on patrol has also been stepped up.

Drivers ticketed for tailgating face a fine of Dh400 (US$110) and four black points on their licence. Police are also fining motorists who impede traffic on highways by driving too slowly. The penalty for this offence is a fine of Dh200. The anti-tailgating campaign was launched after police found that cars following the one in front too close was a major cause of accidents in the capital. Police statistics show tailgating caused 69 accidents, two of them fatal, in the emirate over the past three months.

Major Ahmad al Neyadi of the Ministry of Interior said one of the main aims of the campaign was to protect newly licensed motorists who are not confident enough to handle pressure and would be easily "intimidated" by constant honking, flashing, being followed too closely or being overtaken on a shoulder. Police have said motorists should leave more space than usual between cars during bad weather and not use hazard lights during fog as they reduce visibility.

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