Drivers have backed the introduction of a 120kph minimum speed limit on a major Abu Dhabi motorway.
Abu Dhabi Police announced this week that the new traffic measures for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road will apply to drivers travelling in the first and second lanes from the left.
The maximum speed limit for the route, which links Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will remain at 140kph.
The third lane and the last lane for use by heavy vehicles will not include minimum speed violations, police confirmed.
The rules come into effect this month with fines of Dh400 for travelling below 120kph in designated lanes to be applied from May 1.
“The goal of the low-speed activation is to ensure the safety of drivers, to require slow vehicles to move on the right lanes and to always make way for vehicles with preference coming from behind or from the left,” said General Ahmed Saif Al Muhairi, director of Central Operations Sector at Abu Dhabi Police.
Drivers travelling slowly — particularly in the far-left lane — can often be subject to aggressive tailgating from faster moving vehicles approaching from behind.
Their behaviour can also force motorists travelling at far higher speeds to take evasive action, such as slowing down suddenly and swiftly switching lanes, which can also be hazardous.
Public support for plan
Abu Dhabi Police shared a poll on social media on Friday, asking the public if the scheme would "enhance the safety of road users?".
More than 3,400 people responded to the poll, with 78.5 per cent in favour of the new speed limit.
Twitter users also offered their views in the comments section of the post.
"We benefit greatly from it. Some people walk at 60 and the street speed is 140," wrote one driver.
"People follow the speeds and are surprised by the speed of the one who turns to avoid them or slows down suddenly."
Another said it was important to examine the issue of motorists travelling too slowly on roads.
"We hope that this thing will be addressed, especially since the phenomenon is widespread, which is driving slowly by some well-known drivers."
One driver suggested specific speed limits be introduced for each lane on a motorway.
"In my opinion, each lane must have a specific minimum speed, meaning if the maximum street speed is 140, then the lowest left lane will be 120, and the next lane is 100, and the next lane is 80," he said.
The AA, a UK-based roadside assistance and motoring organisation, highlights the risks of failing to maintain appropriate speeds in a blog post offering guidance to learner drivers.
"To avoid speeding or driving dangerously, you may think it wise to keep at a slow pace well below the speed limit on your test," the post reads.
"Being hesitant and driving too slowly can actually lead you to fail your test, as it can be dangerous. Examiners pass positive drivers, not negative or risk-taking ones. Driving too slowly can also signal that you don’t know what the speed limit is, which the examiner will view as you being unfit to drive."
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road, named in honour of the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, opened in November 2016.
The 62-kilometre motorway, built at a cost of Dh2.1 billion, shares traffic with Sheikh Zayed Road to ease congestion between the two cities.
Road safety in the Middle East — in pictures
Labour dispute
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Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
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Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight Championship AJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
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Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba
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Grigor Dimitrov (BGR) v Roger Federer (SUI)
Rafael Nadal (ESP) v Gilles Muller (LUX)
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) Novak Djokovic (SRB)
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RESULT
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Bayern Munich 4
Leverkusen: Alario (9'), Wirtz (89')
Bayern: Coman (27'), Goretzka (42'), Gnabry (45'), Lewandowski (66')
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
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Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ASHES SCHEDULE
First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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