Brigadier Jumaa Salem bin Suwaidan, Director General of Traffic at Dubai Police, has warned of the dangers of failing to maintain the legally required safe following distance between vehicles, noting that this violation causes serious and fatal accidents. He stressed that statistics show collisions resulting from insufficient following distance are among the most common types of road accidents, and pointed out that the Federal Traffic and Road Law stipulates a fine of 400 dirhams (AED) plus 4 traffic points recorded against any driver who commits this violation.
The warning came after one person was injured in a collision between two trucks that occurred beyond Global Village in the direction of Sharjah, caused by failure to maintain a sufficient safe distance — one of the leading causes of serious road accidents.
Brigadier Jumaa Salem bin Suwaidan explained that the Command and Control Room received a report of the incident, and initial investigations revealed that the crash occurred due to non-compliance with maintaining a sufficient safe following distance behind other vehicles.
The accident resulted in one person being injured, who was transferred to hospital for treatment.
He noted that traffic accident experts immediately proceeded to the scene and began inspection procedures and the collection of technical evidence to determine the precise causes of the accident.
Traffic patrols secured the accident site and organised the flow of traffic to ensure rapid access for ambulances and specialist teams, while field teams worked to remove the damaged vehicles in the shortest possible time to maintain traffic flow and avoid congestion.
The Director General of Traffic called on drivers to exercise caution and alertness while driving, stressing that adherence to traffic regulations protects not only the driver but also contributes to the safety of all road users and achieves a safer and more sustainable traffic environment in the emirate.
He affirmed that maintaining a safe following distance is a fundamental element of defensive driving, which serves to preserve lives and property and reduce losses resulting from accidents.
He noted that Dubai Police continuously implements awareness programmes targeting various segments of society through field and digital campaigns, highlighting the most significant traffic violations affecting road safety, such as speeding, distracted driving, and failure to maintain a sufficient distance between vehicles.