DUBAI // Motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and Dubai Tram riders have been issued a list of rules that come into force when the trams start carrying passengers on Wednesday.
The Roads and Transport Authority said it was important for residents to follow instructions to ensure safety for all.
“Motorists will have to put their hazard lights on if their vehicle breaks down on the tramway, get everyone out of the vehicle and, if they can, move their vehicle away from the tramway and park in a safe zone,” said Maitha bin Udai, chief executive of the Traffic and Roads Agency at RTA.
Ms bin Udai urged motorists to keep their headlights on if the breakdown happened at night, and to call police right away.
She said drivers should give way to trams and not enter junctions after traffic lights turned amber or red.
Drivers can be fined up to Dh30,000 and have their licence revoked for up to a year if they are deemed to have caused a fatal crash at a junction with a tramline. This is on top of any police charges.
Crash barriers are placed between cars and tram corridors as a safety measure, but Ms bin Udai said: “Do not enter prohibited areas, for your safety, as the tram cannot swerve to avoid you.”
Pedestrians, the RTA said, should also follow tram signs and be watchful while walking near tram crossings.
The trams have been equipped with warning sounds so people with special needs are alerted when the vehicle is approaching.
“They should cross roads at the designated crossings and take care near the tracks as trams make little noise. Crossing on tram corridors is strictly prohibited,” said Ms bin Udai.
All pedestrian crossings are controlled by traffic signals and anyone crossing the tracks in undesignated areas or being in prohibited zones can be hit with a fine of up to Dh1,000. Littering on the tracks can also attract fines up to Dh500.
Cyclists are also being urged not to follow the tram rails or block trams, and “should take care that their wheels do not get stuck in the rails”.
Tram users will have to be seated when the cars are in motion or hold on tight while standing, but RTA has not revealed fines for those who disobey the rules.
“To ensure a smooth and safe movement of the tram, road users are required to observe and adhere to the signs and ground markings that are tailor-made for the safe operation of the tram,” said Ahmed Bahrozyan, chief executive of RTA Licensing Agency.
“We have started educating and orienting fresh driving trainees at various driving institutes and centres in Dubai. All road users – pedestrians included – have to give way to the approaching tram, and the only exception here are emergency vehicles.
“Road users have to refrain from any activity that may directly or indirectly hamper the tram’s movement.”
One hundred and fifty traffic officers will monitor traffic at tram intersections, Dubai Police said.
Sixty-four speed cameras have also been installed to slow nearby motorists. Traffic police said the speed traps were on all streets and intersections that met the path of the trams.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
The five pillars of Islam
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Revibe
Started: 2022
Founders: Hamza Iraqui and Abdessamad Ben Zakour
Based: UAE
Industry: Refurbished electronics
Funds raised so far: $10m
Investors: Flat6Labs, Resonance and various others
Stan Lee
Director: David Gelb
Rating: 3/5
ROUTE TO TITLE
Round 1: Beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-2
Round 2: Beat Naomi Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
Round 3: Beat Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2
Round 4: Beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0
Quarter-final: Beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2
Semi-final: Beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4
Final: Beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
RESULT
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3
Chelsea: Willian (40'), Batshuayi (42', 49')
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2
(Martial 30', McTominay 90+6')
Manchester City 0
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
The squad traveling to Brazil:
Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group