ABU DHABI // Motorists in Dubai can now file reports of minor road mishaps at petrol stations, a move that generated mixed reactions from safety experts and residents.
Officers at Rashidiya police station are working on the pilot scheme with three Enoc stations: two on Mohammed bin Zayed Road and one on Al Warqaa near Mirdif. If successful, it will be rolled out across the city.
Enoc employees will help drivers to register a minor accident by using the Dubai Police smart app, removing the need to call police to the site of an accident or visit a police station.
“The service is now available at three stations since the launch last Sunday,” an Enoc spokesman said on Thursday.
“Fifteen of our employees have completed the training. At each station, four will be on hand to assist motorists.”
From a safety point of view it is a very good initiative, particularly because drivers will be allowed to move the vehicle to a safer location after a minor accident, said Nikki Carroll, an Irish resident of Dubai.
“It will also aid in reducing congestion on our busy roads, and free up valuable police time for major accidents,” she said.
In the event of a rear-end collision, drivers tend not to move their cars from the road while waiting for the police to arrive, which could put their lives at risk and cause tailbacks.
“If a four-lane road is busy and fast-moving, somebody coming up from behind and not paying attention could kill one of the drivers of the car – who may be outside having a look, perhaps talking on the phone – or crash into the cars that were in the accident,” Ms Carroll said.
“With this new initiative, the ability and the freedom to move the car to a safer location eliminates that by at least 90 per cent, depending on how quickly the cars are moved from the road.”
Phil Clarke, a principal road safety consultant at Transport Research Laboratory UAE, also welcomed the scheme.
“I think it’s understandable that the police do not want to commit patrols to minor incidents that don’t require their specialist knowledge and skills.
“That’s something that also applies in other parts of the world,” he said.
“The other thing it does – which is an advantage over the Saaed system – is it encourages drivers to move their vehicles out of the road when they have had a minor accident as clearly no one’s going to come to you, so you might as well move your car.”
Saaed is the patrol service that investigates minor road accidents in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates.
“The Enoc idea is to provide the service to people who do not have the app,” Mr Clarke said. “The app must be stable, reliable and easy to use or people will just revert to the old process of having to go the police to report the accident.”
Dubai resident Mathew Litty, 35, hoped there would be more campaigns to educate motorists on using the app. Last week, he called police after seeing his car’s side mirror hanging by its wires. “I hadn’t thought about using an app,” he said.
Motorists who file reports about minor accidents with the app will receive reports that can be cross-referenced by police and submitted to insurers. The app enabled users to photograph traffic offences and send them to the force.
“In Abu Dhabi, Saaed staff determine who’s at fault and you get the pink or green form there and then,” Mr Clarke said. “The advantage of that over the app is you get that piece of paper straight away.”
However, Glenn Havinoviski, a US-based transport expert, said the service patrol solution was a better option.
rruiz@thenational.ae
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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DUNE%3A%20PART%20TWO
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
The specs
The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
If you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Chicago from Dh5,215 return including taxes.
The hotels
Recommended hotels include the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, located in an iconic skyscraper complete with a 1929 Olympic-size swimming pool from US$299 (Dh1,100) per night including taxes, and the Omni Chicago Hotel, an excellent value downtown address with elegant art deco furnishings and an excellent in-house restaurant. Rooms from US$239 (Dh877) per night including taxes.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
SPECS
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