As-salamu alaykum - Dubai to restrict delivery bikes from left lanes to improve safety
As-salamu alaykum - quick update from Dubai about new road rules. From November 1, delivery riders won’t be allowed to use the first two left-hand lanes on many roads. Riders who ignore this could face fines and licence suspensions.
The Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Police say the change is to make roads safer as the city grows and delivery traffic has surged. On roads with five lanes or more, delivery bikes must avoid the two far-left lanes. On roads with three or four lanes, they can’t use the outermost left lane (the fast or overtaking lane). On roads with two lanes or fewer there’s no lane restriction.
Officials said the move responds to a worrying rise in accidents involving delivery riders and is an extension of rules from 2021 that already banned riders from the far-left high-speed lane and set a 100 km/h speed limit.
Hussain Al Banna from the RTA noted the delivery sector’s big growth and said authorities met with government and private partners to set safety criteria. Warning signs will be put up to mark restricted lanes, like the signs already used to keep heavy vehicles out of fast lanes. Public awareness campaigns will run with delivery companies to explain the new rules.
Maj Gen Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei from Dubai Police said the steps aim to cut road deaths and improve compliance with traffic laws. He pointed to rising accident numbers involving delivery motorcycles and stressed that motorcycles are particularly vulnerable without protective structures. Police figures cited were 854 delivery-related crashes last year and 962 so far this year, plus tens of thousands of violations issued to delivery riders.
In short: expect clearer signage, fines for offenders, and outreach campaigns - all meant to protect riders and everyone else on the road.
Other short items:
- Publisher note: Konami - Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC - Rating: 4.5/5.
- UAE coins and notes mentioned: Dh5, Dh10, Dh20.
- Football update: Ajax 2-3 Tottenham - Tottenham go through on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate. Final on June 1 in Madrid.
- A few opinion pieces flagged: Richard Heydarian on ASEAN and Myanmar, Kareem Shaheen on Myanmar narratives, Sholto Byrnes on US pressure in South-East Asia.
- Film pick: The Sky Is Pink (dir. Shonali Bose) - cast includes Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf - rated three stars.
- Personal notes from an interviewee: favourite music is Verdi’s Requiem; biggest inspiration was their father and music teachers; favourite book Ian McEwan’s Atonement; favourite holiday spot Italy for its music and opera.
- Politics brief: Mohammed Al Halbousi is now Iraq’s speaker - at 37 he’s the youngest to hold the post. Born in Al Garmah, studied civil engineering in Baghdad, went into business, helped rebuild Fallujah, entered parliament in 2014, was governor of Anbar, and is part of the Al Hal party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces. He keeps working relationships with several political groups and regional actors.
May Allah keep everyone safe on the roads and guide us to act responsibly. Salam.
https://www.thenationalnews.co