UAE- Rubbernecking your way to a traffic jam

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Next time you spot a traffic accident you might want to avoid rubbernecking the act of slowing down your car to check out the damage

It could be the “inquisitive nature” of drivers and “poor on-road etiquettes” of road users that is causing severe traffic snarls across Dubai and Sharjah experts have suggested. In recent times traffic jams have drastically increased on most major roads across the UAE.

“There is no respite. There are traffic jams throughout the day and its no more a situation where you can use parallel roads to avoid major blocks. The bottlenecks leading in and out of these roads are blocked as well” said Anwar Junaid a resident of Dubai.

After an accident the Dubai Police have allowed vehicles to be moved to the side of the road to avoid traffic jams while waiting for the traffic police to arrive.

Javed Khamisani curator of the Twitter handle TrafficDxb (that updates users and commuters on accidents traffic blocks and jams in and around Dubai) said: “However most people slow down their cars to have a look at what happened. People must understand that this is what causes traffic jams.”

Growing population rising number of cars on the roads bad lane discipline need for speed and tailgating are some of the major reasons for traffic jams.

Problem areas

According to Khamisani there has been a surge in traffic-related accidents and jams. Traffic has increased on Al Khail road especially on the exit curves after Latifa Bint Hamdan exit. “The planning of the entry and exit roads has been done very poorly and the jams take place because people are avoiding Barsha and Safa Salik tollbooths. But despite the toll gates the traffic on Shaikh Zayed road is very bad as well.”

The blockages take place mainly on Al Khail road Al Ittihad road and Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed road. “People who have their companies paying for Salik don’t mind driving through Shaikh Zayed road.”

The number of cars on the road have increased as well he said. “Last week there were an unbelievable number of (reports of) accidents. In one instance I reported more than 10 accidents in less than an hour and that too only on Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed road.”

He stated that the Safa Canal construction is not a reason for the blocks because the diversion roads have six lanes. “The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has done a good job with the construction work near Safa. However people are very inquisitive and they slow down to look at the ongoing construction causing slowdown in smooth flow of traffic.”

Reasons

Thomas Edelman founder of RoadSafetyUAE.com told Khaleej Times that if people start planning their trip beforehand traffic issues would subside. “People are always running late and if you research into recent developments population of the UAE in recent years has jumped up dramatically. Everyone wants to be in the UAE people find jobs here the economy is robust and most economic indicators are going in the right direction hence resulting in more and more cars on the roads.

“Bad driving attitude lack of lane discipline arbitrary cutting of lanes (and) tailgating are some of the primary reasons for jams. People need to start using indicators while cutting lanes.”

More policing on the roads are needed to prevent heavy traffic snags he added.

Apps to avoid jams

According to Edelman government officials and stakeholders must take steps to improve the information made available to road users. “People must be given traffic jam indicators. People can be advised on what time to leave home (and) what time to leave office. The current available information is very adhoc ... If there is an accident the information released is too late.

“People must be provided with packaged data and apps that will help them practically and meaningfully plan their trips.”

The RTA is taking several steps to ensure a traffic-free environment.

Mattar Al Tayer Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA said: “The RTA has undertaken a number of projects initiatives and programmes to improve traffic safety levels spanning three key aspects: The road driver and vehicle. As for the road attention is paid on addressing all conditions and specifications of safety during the design and construction of road projects. As for the driver a unified drivers training module has been developed to the highest international standards and practices ... The RTA is also running continual awareness campaigns in collaboration with its strategic partners mainly the Ministry of Interior and the General HQ of the Dubai Police to diffuse traffic awareness culture among road users.”

He said the coordination and cooperation between the RTA and the General Headquarters of the Dubai Police in promoting roads traffic safety has contributed to reducing traffic accidents mortality rate in Dubai from about 22 deaths per 100000 population in 2007 to nearly 13 deaths per 100000 population in 2009. “(This) ... continued to decline in 2013 to less than four deaths per 100000 population.”

dhanushakhaleejtimes.com