Over 4,500 drivers fined Dhs1,000 each for hard shoulder overtaking in Dubai

Dubai Police have recorded 4,504 violations for overtaking on the hard shoulder since the start of this year, confirming that this offence is among the most dangerous traffic behaviours that threaten road users and obstruct emergency vehicles carrying out their humanitarian duties.

Brigadier Juma Salem Bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, stated that overtaking on the hard shoulder is reckless behaviour that can lead to serious accidents, especially during congestion or on highways. He explained that such actions not only reflect a driver’s disregard for the law but also show carelessness towards the lives of others.

Brig. Bin Suwaidan emphasised that the hard shoulder is not designated for manoeuvring or overtaking. “It is strictly reserved for emergencies, allowing broken‑down vehicles to stop safely and ensuring the smooth passage of ambulance, civil defence, and police vehicles to accident scenes and reports as quickly as required,” he added.

He explained that overtaking on the hard shoulder poses a direct danger to road users, particularly when vehicles are stopped due to technical breakdowns or people are standing beside their cars seeking help. “This can lead to run‑over accidents or sudden collisions, as drivers do not expect vehicles to be travelling in that lane,” he continued.

Brig. Bin Suwaidan also indicated that this behaviour disrupts traffic flow, reduces the efficiency of emergency response, and may delay the arrival of rescue and ambulance teams to the injured – negatively impacting the safety of lives and property .

He noted that there is strong cooperation from community members in reporting such behaviours through the Dubai Police app or via the "We Are All Police" service on 901. This contributes to enhancing compliance with the law and reducing wrongful practices on the roads.

Regarding statistics, Brig. bin Suwaidan stated that February recorded the highest number of violations with 1,638, followed by January with 1,379, then March with 676, May with 482, and April with 329 violations.

He pointed out that the Federal Traffic Law penalises the offence of overtaking on the hard shoulder with a fine of Dhs 1,000, in addition to six traffic points on the driving licence.

Brig. bin Suwaidan called on drivers to adhere to traffic laws and regulations and to exercise patience during traffic congestion, stressing that a few minutes are not worth risking lives or obstructing emergency vehicles from performing their duty. He affirmed that Dubai Police will continue their awareness and monitoring efforts to detect and penalise this violation in order to protect the safety and security of all road users.