Jaywalkers in Abu Dhabi will be fined on the spot. This is good news, as the pedestrian death toll keeps rising despite extensive awareness campaigns across the country. The awareness campaigns didn't seem to really work. Statistics show that 91 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in the capital alone last year. But if they are faced with immediate fines, pedestrians will certainly be forced to pay attention to the rules.

According to Colonel Hamad Adil Al Shamsi, Director of the Traffic Department of Abu Dhabi Police, "if a person is not able to pay the fine on the spot his or her labour card or identity card will be confiscated until the payment is made."

But there is another side to the issue. There is a serious shortage of pedestrian crossings in the UAE. Musaffah Road in Abu Dhabi and Sahara Centre Road in Sharjah are just two examples. So it is good to enforce the rules to save lives, but equally important is the provision of safe passages.