Abu Dhabi driver blames traffic light for crashing into car



ABU DHABI // A taxi driver who was fined Dh2,000 after running a red light and crashing into another car told the Appeals Court yesterday it was not his fault – it was the traffic light’s.

The driver, an Egyptian, said the light at an intersection near the InterContinental Hotel turned green and he drove ahead. However, he said traffic travelling across his direction of travel also received a green light at the same time, causing him to crash.

“It was the traffic light’s fault, there was an accident the following day for the same reason,” he said.

He claimed to have revisited the accident scene to monitor the traffic light sequence, when he discovered the other accident. He then called traffic police and told them to investigate for themselves, ordering a report for which he had to pay Dh1,000. He claimed that a few days later the sequencing of the lights was fixed.

Despite his claims, he was previously fined Dh2,000 by a court, and is now appealing for this to be dropped.

A verdict will be announced on September 20.

hdajani@thenational.ae

Ipaf in numbers

Established: 2008

Prize money:  $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.

Winning novels: 13

Shortlisted novels: 66

Longlisted novels: 111

Total number of novels submitted: 1,780

Novels translated internationally: 66

The National photo project

Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).