ABU DHABI // Foggy conditions pose a threat to motorists, but a law to make fog lights mandatory could help reduce the risk, road safety experts say.
Heavy fog descended on the country on Sunday, leading to fears of a spate of accidents similar to last month when fog resulted in at least four major crashes, including one on the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road on January 17 involving 69 vehicles.
Dino Kalivas, chairman of driver education and training at the International Road Federation, believes making fog lights mandatory on cars could reduce the number of crashes.
“Fog lights and automated vehicle lights that switch on due to poor natural light or fog, or during low-visibility conditions, could reduce the risk of collisions,” Mr Kalivas said.
“Research shows that increasing visibility between vehicles reduces crash risk by more than 30 per cent.”
In 2013, the Ministry of Interior and Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority said they were considering such a law for all vehicles.
“Making rear fog lamps a requirement on vehicles imported after a certain date would make the most sense,” said Michael Dreznes, IRF’s executive vice president. “Motorists who want to be safe should consider adding an after-market rear fog lamp on their own. However, making this a mandate would be difficult to enforce.”
Having at least front fog lights should be mandatory, said Glenn Havinoviski, associate vice president of the US traffic management company Iteris.
“Rear fog lamps, which are only mandatory for vehicles sold in Europe, are very helpful to drivers in heavy fog when you otherwise wouldn’t be able to see,” he said.
“Front fog lights would greatly help with fog visibility but are not necessarily advantageous to people in front of you. But the main issues, from the public viewpoint, may be aesthetics and cost.
“If there is an issue with immediately making the change there should be a grace period of one year to install fog lamps.”
A cause for concern, though, is that many drivers use fog lights in perfectly clear weather.
“Any law requiring the use of fog lamps should say something to the effect that, ‘The driver of a vehicle must not use any fog lights unless driving in fog, mist or under other atmospheric conditions that restrict visibility’,” Mr Havinoviski said.
A campaign on proper use of the lights is needed, said Darren Male, a health, safety, security and environmental manager in Dubai. “All too often we see vehicles being driven with the front fog lamps used in place of headlights,” Mr Male said.
There is technology that can sense fog and activate lights, with dashboard signs to warn motorists to slow down before they get to the foggy area, Mr Dreznes said. “These dynamic signs can be very effective compared to static signs,” he said.
The overhead gantry boards being introduced in Abu Dhabi could also help to warn and remind drivers how to adapt to changing driving conditions, Mr Kalivas said.
“Drivers should you use headlights on low if conditions are foggy, if their vehicles do not have fog light technology.”
rruiz@thenational.ae
UPI facts
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
Points tally
1. Australia 52; 2. New Zealand 44; 3. South Africa 36; 4. Sri Lanka 35; 5. UAE 27; 6. India 27; 7. England 26; 8. Singapore 8; 9. Malaysia 3
Trippier bio
Date of birth September 19, 1990
Place of birth Bury, United Kingdom
Age 26
Height 1.74 metres
Nationality England
Position Right-back
Foot Right
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company%20profile
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The%20specs
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Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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.
