UAE's Stricter Pedestrian Traffic Rules Enforced
Significant responsibility is now placed on pedestrians who jaywalk in the United Arab Emirates. Under the new regulations, if a pedestrian crosses a road with a speed limit of 80 km/h or greater improperly, they may be held civilly and criminally liable for any resulting accident. This means that if the pedestrian's negligence causes an accident, they must compensate the driver for damages, whether it's vehicle damage, financial loss, or even the driver's medical costs.
Background and justification for the changes
The government of the United Arab Emirates aims to clearly reduce traffic accidents resulting from pedestrian inattentiveness. Jaywalking is particularly dangerous on roads with high-speed limits, as drivers have less time to react in such situations, increasing the risk of accidents. The new regulation aims to raise pedestrian awareness of the importance of safe travel and to encourage them to cross roads only at designated pedestrian crossings, following proper signals.
Civil and criminal liability aspects
Under civil liability, the offending pedestrian may be required to reimburse costs incurred by the vehicle owner involved in the accident. Criminal liability means the pedestrian could even face court if the incident had severe consequences like bodily injury or death. With this strict regulation, the United Arab Emirates seeks to ensure that transportation systems are effective and safe for both drivers and pedestrians.
What does this mean in practice?
Pedestrians now face not only fines but also serious legal consequences. If a pedestrian jaywalks on a high-speed road and causes an accident, they must face that not only their physical safety is at risk, but also that they are financially responsible for any damages. This regulation is particularly crucial alongside roads with high-speed traffic, where drivers often cannot stop or evade a suddenly appearing pedestrian in time.
Summary
The new regulation serves as a warning to all pedestrians in the United Arab Emirates to be more conscious and responsible in traffic. Through strict rules, the country aims to improve road safety, reduce accident numbers, and ensure everyone travels safely and responsibly.
