Top tip for drivers: when the fuel tank is nearly empty, this is where you need to go.  Sarah Dea / The National
Top tip for drivers: when the fuel tank is nearly empty, this is where you need to go. Sarah Dea / The National

Dubai Police alarmed at rise in number of motorists running out of petrol on roads



DUBAI // You know the feeling: the pointer on your petrol gauge is perilously close to empty but there’s a queue at the petrol station so you think, I’ll fill up tomorrow.

Well, be warned – such procrastination could cost you not just the embarrassment of a conked-out car in the middle of the road, but a hefty fine.

Police in Dubai report an alarming increase in the number of vehicles that have come to a halt because they have run out of petrol, which traffic police chief Col Saif Al Mazrouei describes as “extremely irresponsible and dangerous at the same time”.

“To stop in the middle of the road or disrupt traffic can lead to serious injuries, or worse, fatalities,” he said.

Running out of petrol is not an offence, but stopping in the road may attract a Dh500 fine and four black points, and the fine for disrupting traffic is Dh200.

“It just doesn’t make sense for a motorist to pass by a gas station when they notice the tank empty. In fact, people are advised to fill up their tanks when they still have a quarter left,” said Maj Mohamed Al Qaydi, head of traffic patrols in Bur Dubai.

“A person’s life is precious, and if someone does run out of gas, then it is imperative they do not end up in the middle of the street or disrupting traffic,” Maj Al Qaydi said.

“I understand that sometimes there are a lot of people waiting in line at the gas station, but that is no excuse to put your life and the lives of others in danger.”

An attendant at a petrol station on Sheikh Zayed Road said that he has at least two customers a day who ask for fuel be filled in a container because their cars have stopped near by.

“It happens on a daily basis. We get two or three people that come to the station and purchase a container for either Dh65 or Dh30,” he said.

Dubai resident Dina Kassem, 23, believed the reason for such incidents was that people were always in a hurry.

“I’ve had a few close calls in which I’ve felt the car was going to run out of fuel,” she said. “No one wants to intentionally run out of gas, but, in my case, I’m always either in a hurry in the morning to get to work or too exhausted to wait in a queue at the gas station after my shift.

“Almost every time I have gone to fill up, it would take me at least 15 minutes.”

Paul, 54, whose vehicle has come to a halt because it ran out of fuel, said he found crowded petrol stations an inconvenience.

“I was on my way to Dubai from Abu Dhabi and realised I needed to refuel. The first gas station I saw was very crowded, and I decided to drive to the next one.

“Unfortunately, my car stopped about 300 metres away from the station. My car started to stall, and I was forced to park on the side of the road and walk back to get fuel.

“You always think the next gas station is going to be less crowded, but that is never the case.”

For Rabia Jamal, 27, who recently moved to the UAE, waiting in line to fill up is still preferable to running out of fuel.

“I just moved here, and I’m constantly worried that I would run out of gas because I keep getting lost on the roads, and, sometimes, a detour would put me back another 20 minutes,” she said.

“I would rather leave my house early before an appointment to make sure I have a full tank than run the risk of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere.”

dmoukhallati@thenational.ae

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Types of policy

Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.

Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.

Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.

Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.

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  • If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
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The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

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Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

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Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
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Match info

Uefa Champions League Group H

Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)

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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
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Company profile

Name: Oulo.com

Founder: Kamal Nazha

Based: Dubai

Founded: 2020

Number of employees: 5

Sector: Technology

Funding: $450,000

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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The specs: 2018 Audi RS5

Price, base: Dh359,200

Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km

Where to apply

Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020

Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.

The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.