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Kind-hearted Dubai residents rallied round to help each other as the power cut threatened to plunge the city's highways into chaos. Bystanders helped to direct traffic and caring motorists handed out water to policemen sweltering in the heat. Their efforts helped to ensure that the roads were safe even though traffic lights were not working. Among those who did their bit to keep things running smoothly was Hassan from Lebanon, who got out of his car and directed traffic on the Jumeirah Beach Road. The 33-year-old, who said the road was in "total chaos", helped to smooth the traffic flow for one-and-a-half hours. Later on, a UAE national and a Palestinian who were passing joined him to direct motorists. "It was complete mayhem so it was very important that someone took control of what was happening. The weather was very hot but I carried on anyhow," he said. He said it was important that members of the public did their bit to control the traffic since motorists were unable to get through to the police to request assistance. It was a similar story near the traffic signals at the Defence Roundabout on Shaikh Zayed Road, where motorists left their cars to control cars and lorries. One passing motorist, a woman from Syria, said that because of the extreme circumstances many drivers behaved more calmly behind the wheel than normal. "One man was standing in the road directing the traffic and the motorists were giving way to each other. "People were very polite in their driving. Usually you can see heavy traffic congestion and people being aggressive, but here they were driving politely and were helping each other. It was a big change from normal," she said. An Indian driver said he was impressed to see a Pathan directing the traffic while wearing his traditional clothing. The Pakistani was preventing chaos at a major interchange of roads leading to Bur Dubai, Satwa, Karama and Port Rashid. "There was one man who took charge. People respected him. It was quite a wonderful thing. "He didn't have to do what he was doing but I think he was enjoying himself and he was there for about two hours."
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