Often in the wintertime Dubai becomes shrouded in fog. Its not that we are driven inside from extreme cold and wind; no, for the climate always remains pleasantly temperate throughout the year. Its more that visisibility becomes so poor that drivers and pedestrians alike cannot see in front of them.
Dubai Fog: D3000 f/5; Exposure Time: 1/500sec; ISO-100; Shutter Priority
Back in 2008 a horrific accident due to fog resulted in a pile-up of over 150 vehicles on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway causing the death of four people and injuries to hundreds. Each year we hear similar tales of tragedies on our roads. We know to be vigilent when the fog descends on our city.
2012 will be a good year, for the installation of 14 fog monitoring stations will alert police and motorists of foggy conditions six hours in advance. Two types of alerts will go out: 1) when the visibility is below 500 metres, (“alarming”), and 2) when it is below 100 metres, (“dangerous”).
We step out with less trepidation now as pedestrians, and safely go about our travels, inshalla.
