Abu Dhabi Police has warned motorists of the dangers associated with transporting gas cylinders in private or unlicensed vehicles that are not labelled with warning signs.

Random gas transport poses a serious threat to other road users and may cause a disaster and tragic human losses as the cylinders could explode in the event of a collision, said the Traffic and Patrols Directorate.

The directorate also stressed the importance of abiding by the rules of safe gas transport, in accordance with the approved regulations; adding that vehicles should be of a specific colour; have an open roof and be labelled with warning signs that alert others that the vehicle is carrying flammable materials.

A fire extinguisher should also be readily available inside these vehicles and must be checked regularly to ensure it is in proper working condition, it added.

The directorate announced that it will be intensifying control to detect any unauthorized transport of gas cylinders in private or unlicensed vehicles. The directorate also called upon companies and individuals not to deal with such irresponsible and greedy vendors who violate the approved regulations of safe gas cylinder transport who endanger their lives and the lives and safety of others for monetary gains.

The directorate recently held a coordinative meeting with a number of government authorities in Al Ain. During the meeting, chaired by Major Matar Mohamed Al Muhairi, acting chief of Al Ain Traffic Section, attendees discussed safe transport standards of gas cylinders, as well as the illegal trade of cooking gas cylinders in private vehicles, which may cause tragic accidents.

The meeting also tackled the means of boosting safety of road users and other topics related to safe transportation of gas cylinders; in addition to ways to curb illegal transport and trade of gas cylinders in unlicensed or non-conforming vehicles. Attendees agreed on the need to intensify traffic control and monitoring and to enforce severe punishment on those who put the lives of road users at risk. – TradeArabia News Service