It's hard not to relish the image. The driver of a 4x4 is tailgating the car in front, one of the most common offences by many of the more obnoxious motorists. With its front bumper just inches from collision, the driver is endangering his own life as well as everyone else's. But all is not as it appears. The driver of the nondescript vehicle in front suddenly produces a flashing blue light, pulls the offending driver over and issues a fine and four black points.
The news that undercover police vehicles are patrolling Abu Dhabi's roads has overtones of the old cops-and-robbers shows, but the mission is deadly serious. Speeding and tailgating are entirely avoidable habits that pose an unacceptable risk on the road, although efforts by the community and Government have curbed deaths in recent months. As long as the police act responsibly, the extra enforcement is welcome news. And gratifying as it is to watch an undercover policeman catch a reckless driver - isn't it time more of their colleagues in marked patrol cars did the same?