All You Need to Know about Jaywalking in the UAE

While traffic laws and fines are there to police the drivers, there are some guidelines and regulations for pedestrians as well. From zebra crossings to footbridges, the UAE government has employed various solutions for walkers to navigate safely on the roads. In line with road safety laws, jaywalking, i.e. the act of crossing any road from a point not designated for pedestrian crossing, is also prohibited in the UAE. 

To prevent accidents, pedestrians should always cross the roads at zebra crossings, footbridges or walk on designated lanes. Here is a detailed guide about the perils and fines for jaywalking and hitting a jaywalker in the UAE. 

What is Jaywalking and why you should avoid it

Jaywalking is a serious issue and the UAE police authorities across various emirates raise awareness against it throughout the year. Jaywalking endangers the lives of motorists and pedestrians and is among the top causes of run over accidents. 

On the flip side, in recent years, measures like the introduction of smart pedestrian road structures such as tunnels, footbridges and zebra crossings along with dedicated awareness camps have considerably brought down the numbers of pedestrian accidents in the UAE. According to a Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai report, there was a 76% decrease in pedestrian fatalities between 2007 and 2019, with the number dropping to 34 in 2019. 

How the UAE authorities decreased the Jaywalking incidents

In the UAE, various strategies have been put to use to discourage jaywalkers. These include: 

Jaywalking fines in the UAE

Both jaywalkers and the motorists are made to comply with the traffic signals and urged to drive at the speed limits in the UAE by means of imposing fines. The jaywalking fines in the UAE are: 

• People caught crossing roads outside pedestrian lanes – AED 400
• People ignoring traffic lights to cross roads – AED 400
• Motorists driving outside the speed limit near the pedestrian crossings – AED 500

Smart Radars and Signals in the UAE

Abu Dhabi Police have smart radars in place to detect jaywalkers as well as drivers who don’t slow down/stop at pedestrian crossings. Meanwhile, in Dubai, Smart Pedestrian Signals have been introduced to observe pedestrian movements before and while they cross the roads as well as the vehicle movements. The signals adjust timings accordingly to maximise pedestrian movement. These smart traffic radars in the UAE helps in implementation of the rules and regulations.

How to cross roads safely in the UAE

Finally, RTA Dubai has come up with the following pedestrian safety tips helping them to use the UAE roads more safely and without any unwanted incidents. These are: 

1. Pedestrians must not be distracted while using a zebra crossing, which includes not using phones for texting or calling
2. They should avoid using headphones while crossing the road
3. Pedestrians must be alert about their surroundings to stay safe
4. They should always look and listen before crossing a road
5. Pedestrians should follow the traffic signals wherever they are available and always cross streets at a corner.
6. They must never cross the road if the pedestrian light is red
7. Pedestrians should use footbridges wherever they are available

This is all you need to know about jaywalking in the UAE. Ensure your safety and always follow the traffic laws in the UAE to avoid fines and any jaywalking penalty. Once you are well aware of the driving rules in the Emirate, check out these used cars for sale to get one at an affordable price. For more information about driving, laws, cars and more, stay tuned to the UAE’s top auto blog.