Alia Al Theeb / Gulf News
 
Dubai, Oct 20: More than 500 minor accidents take place in Dubai every day and lead to more traffic congestions when the parties involved do not move their vehicles out of the way, a senior police official said yesterday.

Police urged motorists to clear the road in case of a minor traffic accident to avoid traffic congestion. The violators would face fines.

Brigadier Engineer Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of the Dubai Police Traffic Department, said more than 500 minor accidents take place on Dubai roads daily, which means 500 traffic jams if the parties involved do not abide by police instructions and insist on waiting in the middle of the road, blocking traffic and waiting for a patrol to come, which may take time.

He warned motorists that the patrols that arrive at the scene immediately issue a fine for blocking traffic to the motorist who refuses to move his vehicle to the side. He said police would issue a fine even if the motorist was a victim in the accident.

"Police would issue two fines if the motorist was at fault for causing the accident and refusing to move the vehicle outside the road," Brigadier Al Zafein said.

He reassured that traffic police have the technical ability and experience to determine which vehicle was at fault even if they were not on the accident spot.

Brigadier Al Zafein called on some motorists and the public to stop "over curiousness", which makes them pull over or reduce speed to watch the accident, even if it was on the other side of the road without considering other road users who wish to continue on their way.

He said the behaviour also affects police and emergency vehicles and block traffic.

"Traffic movement stops completely or slows down incredibly when there is a minor accident and the involved parties refuse to take their vehicles outside the road, especially when roads already suffer from congestion and do not need more," he said.