Dubai, UAE: Officials reported a terrific increase in emergency call volumes when heavy fog covered most highways and residential districts in the emirate. Dubai Police said that 8,263 emergency calls were received with the help of the 999 hotline during the two days when visibility had reached dangerously low levels.

The rush of calls was more active in the early morning hours of Monday and Tuesday between 3:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. when heavy fog was at maximum. Drivers who came to work and those taking children to school had to drive in heavy fog, which greatly hampered the horizontal visibility. The magnitude of the reaction demonstrates the extent to which the state of intense fogs can disrupt normal life and overwork the emergency operations within a brief period of time.

Less Visibility And Dangerous Driving

Poor visibility is a frequent seasonal condition that is experienced in the UAE especially in the colder months, when humidity levels are high and the temperatures drop at night. But this recent incident of excessive fog was quite severe and there was great anxiety among motorists. A number of drivers complained of being unable to see the vehicles in front, road signs, and lanes. In others visibility was cut down to only a few metres. These conditions greatly predict accidents like:

Rear-end collisions
Multi-vehicle pile-ups
Sudden braking incidents
Cars that are in between lanes.

The officials highlighted the fact that dense fogs turn even well-known roads into risky places.

Emergency Response And Operational Readiness

As the heavy fog was sweeping the emirate, the Command-and-Control Centre of the General Department of Operations of the Dubai Police received the command to initiate enhanced monitoring protocols. There was the deployment of patrol units in strategic positions to ensure that traffic flow is controlled and that the units respond fast to incidents.

Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al Ali, who is the Acting Director of the Command-and-Control Centre established that the teams were well equipped to deal with the increased number of calls of emergencies. He emphasized that people will always be needed to cooperate with police even in times of heavy fog even though police resources were mobilized efficiently. The government once again stressed the idea that emergency lines should be utilized only in such urgent cases as they will provide critical incidents with the necessary immediate response.

Key Advice For Motorists

Dubai police sent great warnings to drivers to be as cautious as possible in cases of dense fog. Safety measures that should be recommended are:

Slowing down considerably even to lower limits.
Keeping intervehicular distance.
No sudden braking and changing lanes.
Appropriate use of fog lights.
Creating greater visibility by cleaning up windshields and windows.

The officials warned that not changing the driving behaviour during a heavy fog might result in significant traffic accidents with devastating human and material effects.

The National Centre Of Meteorology Issued A Warning

Alerts about the occurrence of heavy fog at several regions of the country including Dubai had earlier been given by the National Centre of Meteorology. Poor visibility was a warning issued by weather bulletins to motorists particularly on highways and open desert roads whereby fog is known to be more compact. These alerts come with continuous attempts at reducing accidents and promotion of proactive measures towards safety before the heavy fog conditions deteriorate.

Effect On Traffic And Daily Life

The heavy fog did not only create more emergency calls but also interfered with daily routine. Traffic during mornings was very slack and the road was covered with mists, forcing drivers to go very slowly. There are instances whereby some schools and offices have reported delays because of long journey times. The ride-hailing services and delivering activities were impacted as well, with the drivers reshaping the schedules to allow slower speeds. No significant shutdowns were reported but the impacts of the heavy fog were experienced throughout the transportation networks.

The reports noted the repetition of the heavy fogs at some times of the year. According to experts, although the levels of fog are not exceptional in the UAE, the results of fogs may be significantly different based on the level of humidity, the speed of wind and changes in temperature during the night. Officials emphasize that the best protection against the heavy fog dangers is awareness and preparedness.

Being Careful Is Important During This Thick Fog

The number of emergency calls that were received (8, 263) within this period is indicative of the fact that the heavy fog can become a massive safety issue within a short period of time. Although the emergency services worked effectively, authorities stress that it is up to the driver behaviour that defines road safety.

Heavy fog could be temporary but its dangers are real and direct. Driving slowly, keeping safe distances and adhering to official guidelines, drivers can contribute to the decreased number of accidents and make sure that the emergency lines are not occupied by real accidents. With the weather still being seasonal, the authorities are on high alert, warning the citizens that they should be careful of heavy mists, since such mists can claim many lives.

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