(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Traffic congestions are a burden not just to commuters but also to the economy and, in the UAE, around 50 per cent of traffic jams are triggered by road accidents. According to reports, the estimated cost of accidents in Dubai is around Dh1.8 billion annually. This means some Dh4.93m are wasted daily due to mishaps, which could have been avoided if only every motorist is driving safely.
A study commissioned by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) last year also revealed that 250,000 vehicle breakdowns happen every year and 200,000 minor accidents are reported annually.
Daily, the number of mishaps in the emirate totals 548, or about 23 every hour. By the time you finish reading this article, three cars have already been involved in a minor incident.
While authorities strictly enforce laws and regulations to ensure a smooth traffic flow, the sheer volume of vehicles is also a big problem. As of 2016, there were 3.39 million registered vehicles or one for every three persons in the UAE.
The ratio of car ownership is higher in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where there is one vehicle for every two residents or 540 vehicles per 1,000 people.
Traffic congestion is a huge headache, especially during the rush hour. According to the Inrix Global Traffic Scorecard released last year, motorists in Dubai spent a total of 29 hours in traffic jams in 2017; Fujairah residents spent 22 hours; 12 hours in Al Ain; and 13 hours in Abu Dhabi.
On a positive note, the UAE achieved the highest rating of 10 for safer road usage, drink-driving law, and usage of motorcycle helmets and seat belts.
Authorities are also working on an effective scheme to reduce the time it takes to remove affected vehicles from the road and fend off potential secondary accidents triggered by the sudden traffic build-up.
The recently launched Traffic Incidents Management Unit of Dubai has proven that it can get to an incident site in six minutes and clear an obstruction in less than 15 minutes.
The RTA formed the unit in partnership with the Dubai Police and Dubai Municipality in September last year. Since its launch, the team has found that out of the 1,800 traffic incidents on the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road, 60 per cent of the accidents were related to light vehicles, while 15 per cent involved heavy vehicles.
The RTA is working on reducing the clearance time of minor accidents by 35 per cent and associated congestions and costs by 25 per cent, aside from curbing the rate of secondary accidents.
It also announced in November last year that a Dh590-million project is bound to expand its smart traffic systems.
The project is set to upgrade the system and provide an integrated infrastructure. It will assist in the management of bottlenecks and accidents, improving safety for road users, and easing personal mobility.
Angel Tesorero
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