Blind Parking Meter Inspector in Abu Dhabi

Although I purchased and clearly displayed a parking ticket in my car (valid from 8:07 pm on 18-02-2012 through to 08:07 am on 19-02-2012) in Abu Dhabi, the blind parking meter inspector AD0407 issued me a Dhs. 500 (US $ 137) violation ticket at 01:58 am on 19-02-12 for parking in an unauthorized place !!!

Later that same day, after driving from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to photograph the Auris Metro Central Hotel, when I was driving back to our flat at 7:20 pm, the driver of a Toyota Land Cruiser behind me decided that although all of the traffic was flowing in the outside lane at 110 kph in a 100 kph speed limit, I was not travelling fast enough, so he drove up against the rear of my car and then started to try and push me forwards. After he had accelerrated me up to 124 kph and I was fast appoaching the cars in front of me, I started to brake gently. As we slowed down, another Toyota Land Cruiser (who was also in a hurry) didn't manage to slow down in time, and hit the rear of the first Land Cruiser violently !!!

Originally, there was exactly enough space between the rear of my now shortened Peugeot and the front of the crumpled Land Cruiser to fit one more Land Cruiser, but as soon as I moved my car forwards to get my camera out of my crumpled boot ....

(Nikon D700 : Nikkor 24-120mm VR f3.5-5.6 : f5 : 1/60" : 24mm : ISO 800: 19.02.2012 19:25:12)

.... he quickly moved his car onto the hard shoulder, in an attempt to hide his guílt !!

(Nikon D700 : Nikkor 24-120mm VR f3.5-5.6 : f5 : 1/100" : 24mm : ISO 800: 19.02.2012 19:24:47)

(Nikon D700 : Nikkor 24-120mm VR f3.5-5.6 : f5 : 1/60" : 24mm : ISO 800: 19.02.2012 19:24:28)

The local guy in the Kandora is the idiotic driver who hit me first, the Indian guy in the suit is the one who hit the back of the first Land Cruiser.

(Nikon D700 : Nikkor 24-120mm VR f3.5-5.6 : f5 : 1/60" : 24mm : ISO 800: 19.02.2012 19:24:10)


I felt sorry for all of the following drivers who got delayed in the ensuing traffic jam, as the outside lane of the main bypass around Dubai was blocked for almost 1 hour.