RTA to monitor, fine drivers using bus lanes

How to better manage traffic accidents, coming diversions at Al Safouh Street for Dubai Tram-related construction, dedicated bus and taxi lanes, and the trial run of pool vehicles, was discussed at a high-level meeting between Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman and Executive Director of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazinah, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police.

Both agreed to set up a work team headed by Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, Assistant Commander of Dubai Police for Operation Affairs, with members including Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic and Roads Agency, and officials from RTA and Dubai Police.

The team is tasked to work out a methodology, appoint a consultant to assess the current situation of traffic accidents management, and suggest technical solutions capable of leveraging accidents management plan at world-class standards.

“The material cost of delay resulting from traffic accidents constitutes a huge burden on the emirate of Dubai,” said Al Tayer. “Road authorities in economically advanced countries, such as USA and Britain, had set up teams tasked with the management of traffic accidents in collaboration with the police, ambulance and civil defence departments.

These teams are held responsible for making instant response to accidents, managing traffic movement at the scenes of the accident and neighbouring streets, protecting the site and evacuation staff, clearing the road as quick as possible, and averting secondary accidents,” he added.

Car pool

It was agreed to study the trial implementation of pool vehicles project (used by two or more persons) on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road. This would eventually contribute to reducing the number of vehicles travelling on the streets of the emirate.

The meeting also discussed progress on public bus and taxi lanes with the aim of shortening the time taken by taxis to reach customers, improving and the on-time bus timetables, reducing direct and indirect operational costs, minimizing emission of pollutions, and adopting best-in-class international practices in running public transport systems.

It was agreed that RTA would activate the system of offences by private vehicles using dedicated bus lanes through surveillance system on board public buses or cameras. The RTA is currently working on establishing a link between the bus route surveillance system with the RTA offence code.

The meeting also discussed traffic diversions at Al Safouh Street required to complete construction works and start of trial runs of Dubai Tram. The RTA started the implementation of the traffic diversions on Al Safouh Street in a sector between the intersection of the Dubai Media City up to the bridge leading to the Jumeirah Beach Residence.

Works started in mid-May and will continue on the three intersections up to mid-July. Traffic diversions have been designed in a way that maintains the same number of lanes in all parts of the traffic diversion, and ensuring the provision of turning openings in certain parts where some traffic movements had been halted. It has been agreed to stage traffic patrols in the site of the traffic diversion to streamline traffic flow in the area in order to avoid congestions during morning and evening peak hours.

The meeting was attended from Dubai Police by Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, Brigadier Anas Al Matroushi, Director of Transport and Rescue; and Colonel Dr Mohammed Nasser Al-Razzuqi, Deputy Director of Police Stations and Guard Posts. RTA officials included Maitha bin Udai, Dr. Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Public Transport Agency; Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of Licensing Agency; and Hussain Al Banna, Director of Traffic.
 

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