Going on a road trip in UAE? Check your tyres, luggage weight

Patrols at checkpoints and highways will be deployed to monitor all travellers.

The Sharjah and Fujairah Police have warned cross-country road travellers against driving with overloaded luggage, worn-out tyres or faulty brakes.

Patrols at checkpoints and highways will be deployed to monitor all travellers and ensure that they follow safety measures, the police pointed out.

Also read: Dh2,000 fine, 6 black points for this traffic offence in UAE

The steps are part of the 'Safe Summer' awareness campaign, which aims to educate land travellers about the dangers caused by poor vehicle maintenance and overloading.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Lt-Col Abdulrahman Khater, director of traffic awareness at the Sharjah Police, said the campaign aims to achieve the highest level of traffic safety for all road users.

He hoped it would raise drivers' awareness of the importance of complying with the traffic rules for long-distance travel.

Khater said the Sharjah Police would publish awareness messages through websites and official accounts on social networking sites.

He urged travellers not to overload their vehicles with heavy baggage. Police and customs officers have been tasked to weigh the luggage and not to allow travellers with the excess load to continue their journey.

Dr Ali Rashid bin Awash, director of traffic and patrols department at Fujairah Police, said the month-long summer traffic initiative is part of a unified campaign plan of the Federal Traffic Council at the Ministry of Interior.

He added that the campaign intends to spread a culture of compliance with safety measures for vehicle tyres and periodic inspection, especially in the summer due to high temperatures.

The traffic director urged the drivers to carry out regular inspections on their vehicles and observe the speed limits on the roads.

He pointed out that travellers must stick to baggage limit while travelling through the borders.