(11 April 2009)
ABU DHABI // There is rarely a break in the traffic on Airport Road. Much like the rest of Abu Dhabi, it flows thick and fast. Putting their lives at risk, pedestrians dash across the highway where and when they can, sometimes with cars bearing down at high speed.Despite the close calls, near misses and fatal accidents and police campaigns, the gamble with life continues in a country where, for now at least, cars remain kings of the road.
People continue to make bold dashes across wide and busy roads, frustrating many drivers who believe there are too many close calls.
Jassim Mohammed, a 39-year-old legal consultant from Dubai visiting friends in Abu Dhabi, said pedestrians crossing at the wrong places were causing problems for drivers and increasing the chances of road accidents.
“It’s absolutely wrong,” he said. “They shouldn’t cross in the middle of the road. They should cross in the proper places.” He fears that, because of the law, he would be blamed if he hit someone, even if it was not his fault.
“I would be blamed because they would say that I didn’t drive carefully. How can I drive carefully if someone jumps out in front of my car like a cat?”
Fadwa Qourah, 30, from the Palestinian Territories, has lived in Abu Dhabi for more than two years. She said many pedestrians did not look before they crossed.
People continue to make bold dashes across wide and busy roads, frustrating many drivers who believe there are too many close calls.
Jassim Mohammed, a 39-year-old legal consultant from Dubai visiting friends in Abu Dhabi, said pedestrians crossing at the wrong places were causing problems for drivers and increasing the chances of road accidents.
“It’s absolutely wrong,” he said. “They shouldn’t cross in the middle of the road. They should cross in the proper places.” He fears that, because of the law, he would be blamed if he hit someone, even if it was not his fault.
“I would be blamed because they would say that I didn’t drive carefully. How can I drive carefully if someone jumps out in front of my car like a cat?”
Fadwa Qourah, 30, from the Palestinian Territories, has lived in Abu Dhabi for more than two years. She said many pedestrians did not look before they crossed.
“Even if you are going at high speed they won’t look,” she said.
There have been occasions when she has had her family in the car, and been forced to slam on the brakes to allow someone to cross who did not take the time to check if the road was clear.
But not all pedestrians are so foolhardy. Khaled Yahya Ahsami, 28, from Abu Dhabi who drives a Mustang when he is not walking, believes that “it is only one life you have”, and he does not intend on losing his on the road.
Although he finds that crossings are few and far between, he said he only crosses the road where there are traffic signals, because “drivers are driving carelessly”.
There have been occasions when she has had her family in the car, and been forced to slam on the brakes to allow someone to cross who did not take the time to check if the road was clear.
But not all pedestrians are so foolhardy. Khaled Yahya Ahsami, 28, from Abu Dhabi who drives a Mustang when he is not walking, believes that “it is only one life you have”, and he does not intend on losing his on the road.
Although he finds that crossings are few and far between, he said he only crosses the road where there are traffic signals, because “drivers are driving carelessly”.
He is not alone. Bonny Joseph, 31, an Etihad Airways worker from India who does not drive, also crosses roads at the safest of places, preferably an underpass.
“The cars are very fast in Abu Dhabi. This is a highway, it’s not good to cross the road,” he said. “Sometimes cars don’t slow down because it is not made for pedestrians. I feel safer crossing in the underpass.”
Even if there is an underpass nearby, pedestrians do not always use it. Next to the underpass that Mr Joseph emerged from, a man darted through traffic risking his life and also a fine of Dh200 (US$54), just to get to the other side in a hurry.
Even when pedestrians try to get across the road at properly designated crossings, they often risk their lives. Roxanna Gill, from Pakistan, appeared calm as she walked over a faded zebra crossing, pausing between lanes of fast moving traffic, cars flying by either side of her, as she made her way to a shop. Once she reached the safety of the pavement she acknowledged that her heart rate was faster than usual.
This time, she had made it safely to the other side but as another speeding car shot past, she said she always felt at risk on zebra crossings because cars rarely slowed down for her.
“The cars are very fast in Abu Dhabi. This is a highway, it’s not good to cross the road,” he said. “Sometimes cars don’t slow down because it is not made for pedestrians. I feel safer crossing in the underpass.”
Even if there is an underpass nearby, pedestrians do not always use it. Next to the underpass that Mr Joseph emerged from, a man darted through traffic risking his life and also a fine of Dh200 (US$54), just to get to the other side in a hurry.
Even when pedestrians try to get across the road at properly designated crossings, they often risk their lives. Roxanna Gill, from Pakistan, appeared calm as she walked over a faded zebra crossing, pausing between lanes of fast moving traffic, cars flying by either side of her, as she made her way to a shop. Once she reached the safety of the pavement she acknowledged that her heart rate was faster than usual.
This time, she had made it safely to the other side but as another speeding car shot past, she said she always felt at risk on zebra crossings because cars rarely slowed down for her.
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