UAE drivers who fail to give way face being hit with Dh400 tailgating fine, police say​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A senior police officer said all motorists must ensure they maintain a safe distance on the roads

Abu Dhabi Police reminded motorists that new traffic cameras detecting tailgating will be introduced this week. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

Police in Abu Dhabi have warned motorists who hog the overtaking lane to give way to other cars or face being hit with a Dh400 fine.

Motorists who fail to move over for vehicles travelling close behind could be guilty of a tailgating offence, a senior officer said.

Cameras in the emirate are equipped with the latest monitoring technology and can detect both vehicles – the one in front and the other that's tailgating – if they fail to maintain safe distance between them, resulting in fines being issued to both drivers, the Arabic-language newspaper Emarat Al Youm reported.

Last week, Abu Dhabi police activated new traffic cameras to catch reckless tailgaters. The force released a video on social media putting motorists on notice that the monitoring technology will crack down on offenders.

Article 84 of the UAE traffic law penalises drivers who block the movement of vehicles with a Dh400 fine.

A warning via a text message will be sent to drivers for tailgating the first time, followed by a Dh400 fine and four black points on their licence for any subsequent offence.

The motorist charged with obstructing traffic in the overtaking lane will also be fined Dh400.

Police urged drivers to leave a safe distance to the vehicle in front of them.

It is unclear what distance the cameras will deem to be tailgating but it will likely depend on the speed limit on the road.

"Not leaving enough distance can also be the fault of the driver who did not clear the way for the person coming from the back or from the left," said Brig Salem Al Dhaheri, Deputy Director of Abu Dhabi Police Traffic Department.

“This offence falls under Article 84 of the Traffic Federal Law and the Dh400 fine is for both the vehicles in tailgating offences,” he said.

The left lane is not meant to be used as a fast lane, Brigadier Al Dhaheri said, and it should be used only for overtaking and once the motorist has overtaken a vehicle, he should return to the right lane.

“Statistics during the past years show that failing to leave sufficient safe distance is one of three main causes of accidents,” he said.

Motorists driving in the fast lane will have to move to the right lane if another car approaches from behind or they will be fined Dh400, Dubai Police also warned motorists on twitter.

“You have to move to the right if you are in the fast lane otherwise you will get a fine of Dh400,” the police answered a query on twitter.