A sudden stop to pick up a fallen number plate triggered a three-vehicle pileup on Al Khail Road towards Abu Dhabi, leaving one person with serious injuries and two others hospitalised with moderate injuries, Dubai Police have confirmed.
Investigators and traffic patrols were dispatched to the scene, where authorities secured the area, directed traffic and coordinated with emergency responders. Evidence collection is underway.
Brigadier Jumaa Salem bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic, described mid-road stops as one of the most hazardous behaviours recorded on Dubai’s streets. “Stopping on the road often leads to severe accidents and serious injuries,” he said, adding that drivers should verify their vehicles are in proper working condition before every journey.
Bin Suwaidan urged anyone whose vehicle becomes immobile on a road to call police immediately rather than attempt to manage the situation alone, allowing authorities to secure the scene and protect surrounding traffic.
Under current traffic regulations, motorists who stop on a road due to a breakdown, fuel shortage or tyre failure face a Dh1,000 fine and six black points. A separate Dh500 penalty under Article 98 applies for obstructing traffic flow.
Police outlined a standard response protocol for drivers caught in a breakdown: activate hazard lights, place a warning triangle at a safe distance behind the vehicle, move passengers away from the carriageway and contact authorities for assistance.
In the Al Khail Road incident, a trailing driver failed to notice the stationary vehicle in time, struck the individual who had stepped out to retrieve the plate, and then collided with both the stopped car and a third vehicle caught in the chain.
