Abu Dhabi road to have dedicated emergency vehicle and taxi lane

Drivers who use the right hand lane of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street face a Dh400 fine

Emergency services have expressed frustration at the failure of many drivers to make way for police, paramedics and firefighters. Sammy Dallal / The National

Drivers have been warned against using a lane of a busy Abu Dhabi street or face a fine of Dh400.

From December 1, the right hand lane of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street will be reserved for emergency vehicles, buses and taxis.

Anyone who flouts the rule, which applies in both directions, will receive a fine of Dh400, according to a tweet from Abu Dhabi Police.

The road runs down the western side of the island connecting the Corniche with Al Bateen Street.

Emergency service chiefs across the Emirates have expressed frustration at the failure of many drivers to make way for police, paramedics and firefighters.

"It's essential to spread a culture of giving way to emergency, police and official convoys to improve response speeds to accidents, so we can get much-needed services to the injured without delay," Maj Gen Abdullah Ali Al Ghaithi, acting assistant police chief for operations, told The National in October.

In Dubai, 121 drivers were fined between January and October this year.