One person was seriously injured, while 13 others sustained medium and minor injuries as a result of a major car crash involving 57 vehicles on the Al Ain-Abu Dhabi highway on Thursday morning. The accident took place on both sides of the highway near the Abu Samrah area as a result of low visibility and heavy fog.
According to the police, around 39 cars rammed into each other on Abu Dhabi-Al Ain side of the road, while 18 vehicles hit each other in the opposite direction. The accident brought traffic to a complete standstill, and drivers were redirected to alternative routes, from the Al Yahar Bridge, and from the Ramah Bridge to the trucks road.
Major Salah Abdulalh Al Humairi, Chief of the Al Ain Traffic and Patrols Section at the Traffic and Patrols Directorate General of Abu Dhabi Police, noted that the traffic patrols and ambulances from the Emergency and Public Safety Department, as well as the civil defense vehicles, were dispatched to the scene immediately after receiving the notification. “The preliminary investigation showed that the accident occurred due to low visibility, and to drivers’ failure to leave a sufficient safe distance between vehicles and to reduce speed during such changing weather conditions,” said Major Al Humairi.
He also said that through joint cooperation, as per the emergency plan for fog-related incidents, the directorate evacuated the injured and transferred them to hospitals for treatment. Damaged cars were removed, traffic going in both directions was halted, and alternative routes were provided in order to reduce the occurrence of more traffic accidents. “The Public Relations Section at the directorate, has warned through live radio broadcasts, about the occurrence of the major car crash on the aforementioned road in both directions, calling on drivers to exercise caution, reduce speed, leave sufficient distance between vehicles and follow the designated alternative roads,” added Major Al Humairi.
On the same note, Major Al Humairi called on motorists to abide by traffic rules by leaving a safe distance between vehicles, especially during foggy conditions. He also urged motorists to reduce speed, abide by the legal speeds on internal and external roads, stop their vehicle on the right side of the road, and use their hazard lights in case of low visibility.
On the other hand, the Directorate General of Traffic and Patrols at Abu Dhabi Police, in coordination with the Security Media Department of the General Secretariat of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, intensified traffic awareness in pursuance of the safety initiatives during these foggy conditions. The directorate called on motorists to reduce speed, leave safe distances between vehicles, avoid overtaking, and avoid mistakes made by some drivers including using hazard signals while driving in the fog, which results in traffic accidents.
The directorate also urged motorists to exercise caution while using external and internal roads, especially during the late hours of the night until the early hours of the morning. It also stressed that an integrated plan is being implemented to provide traffic safety during fog, including intensifying patrols on internal and external roads, preventing trucks from using truck roads, and preventing heavy-duty vehicles from using internal and external roads.
Moreover, it appealed to companies and heavy-duty truck owners to not use their vehicles until the fog clears and visibility is good. It also urged them to tighten traffic control and apply severe penalties against violators.
The practical efforts are accompanied by efforts made to increase awareness, which included calling on motorists to exercise caution, guiding them to c