The Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road. ARCHIVE

A driver traveling between Abu Dhabi and Dubai was fined eight times for driving below the minimum speed limit on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road. The motorist, unaware of the minimum speed rule of 120 km/h on the fast lanes, was driving between 110km/h and 115 km/h and only realized the fines upon receiving multiple SMS notifications when he reached his home. The fined motorist expressed frustration on social media, saying it turned out to be an expensive lesson for him as he was “unaware of the rule.” The rule, introduced in April 2023, mandates a 120 km/h minimum speed for vehicles on the two leftmost lanes of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road, also called the E311. Abu Dhabi Police clarified that the maximum speed is 140 km/h, and violators of the minimum speed face a Dh400 fine. However, the third and last lanes are exempt from the rule, accommodating slower vehicles and heavy trucks. The incident sparked online discussions, with many netizens pointing out that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. “There are signs every few kilometers,” a netizen pointed out. Authorities have said the rule is part of traffic safety measures, emphasizing that slow-moving vehicles on fast lanes can cause sudden braking, accidents, or road rage. They added that driving at consistent, safe speeds is crucial to reducing traffic-related incidents. ICA/Expat Media
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