Sharjah: Police have recorded 2,248 violations of drivers using the hard shoulder during first quarter of 2015, according to statistics released by Sharjah Police on Thursday.
In addition to drivers who pass other cars on the hard shoulder, one of the worst offenders, police said, are trucks driving or parking on the hard shoulder.
Major Khalid Al Kay, Acting Director of Traffic Awareness and Media Section of Sharjah Police, said abuse of the hard shoulder is one of the most serious traffic offences and often results in death or grave injuries.
Sharjah Police recently introduced a new radar system which is able to catch hard shoulder offenders and detect trucks that pass during banned timings.
“We have launched an advanced system after noticing an increase in traffic collisions resulting from driving on the hard shoulder,”
Drivers who overtake others through the hard shoulder represent a danger to everyone else on the road because sometimes they are in the way of ambulances or police cars.”
Major Al Kay said the hard shoulder is meant to be used only in case of emergencies by ambulances and police cars, in order to save people’s lives and provide immediate care.
“Collisions from these violations have resulted in serious injuries and even death,” Major Al Kay said.
Violators face a Dh600 fine and six black points on their driving license, he said.