200-Car Accident Today in Dubai - Abu Dhabi
This morning on the highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, heavy fog and the usual crazy driving resulted in a massive pile-up. Gulf News is currently reporting over 200 vehicles involved in the crash, 25 caught on fire, and 6 people killed while Khaleej Times is reporting 284 people injured and 3 killed.
Heavy fog seems to be occurring on a monthly basis since DB and I moved here. I remember the one and only time I drove in the Dubai fog - I was on SZR where the speed limit is 120 kph (75 mph but people tend to drive much faster) - first thing I did was turn on my headlights, I stayed in the slower lanes and tried to maintain a safe distance between myself and the cars in front of me.
To my dismay, all around me, it seemed as if no one else noticed that there was decreased visibility. People were driving like they always do - fast and furious, with frequent lane changes, no headlights on (but many with their hazard lights on -why? I don’t know). They were probably also on their cell phones with no hands-free device and probably not even wearing seat belts.
So I can only imagine what would happen if all of a sudden, while driving in reduced visibility, at speeds over 120 kph, on your cell phone, or tailgating when you suddenly come upon a road block - in today’s case - that road block became a 200-vehicle accident.
200 vehicles. Holy shit.
Photo taken from gulfnews.com:
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Wow, that is a nasty accident. The problem with those large accidents afterwards is trying to sort out who was at fault. It is one big legal mess. Most people don’t realize that they need to keep a larger distance between them and the car in front of them the faster they go. They should teach car physics as a requirement to get a license!