A legal expert has urged Dubai residents to familiarize themselves with traffic laws concerning pedestrian crossings, emphasizing that both drivers and pedestrians are subject to rules, fines, and penalties. This follows a recent case in which a Dubai court fined both a motorist and a pedestrian involved in a run-over accident, as reported by Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm. The motorist received a Dh3,000 fine for endangering others, while the pedestrian was fined Dh200 for crossing from an unauthorized area.
In the UAE, pedestrians must use designated crossings such as zebra crossings, bridges, or subways to cross roads. Violating this rule results in a Dh400 fine. The court demonstrated leniency in its verdicts in the aforementioned case. Dubai Police have repeatedly warned that jaywalking can lead to fatal accidents; last year, eight people died and 339 were injured in run-over incidents due to crossing at unauthorized spots. Nearly 44,000 pedestrians were fined for jaywalking in 2023.
Legal expert Abdulrahman Al Qassem cautioned that traffic laws apply equally to motorists and pedestrians. He noted to Khaleej Times, "Even if I, as a pedestrian, cross from an unauthorized area, the driver is responsible for being cautious and watching out for me." Earlier this year, a driver and two pedestrians were fined after an accident in Dubai left the pedestrians injured. The driver was fined Dh2,000 for violating traffic rules, and the pedestrians were each fined Dh400 for crossing from an unauthorized area.
At designated crossings, failing to give pedestrians priority can result in a Dh500 fine and six black points. A Dubai Police official recently told Khaleej Times that motorists must wait until pedestrians have fully crossed the road. Some drivers accelerate once pedestrians have partially crossed, but this is against the rules and can lead to fines.
The police utilize smart devices to monitor offenses at pedestrian crossings, recording these incidents on video and verifying them before issuing fines.
