Dubai roads to be cleared in under 12 minutes after accidents

Dubai - Dubai Police and RTA also discussed traffic bottlenecks in residential areas bordering Sharjah.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai and the Dubai Police are planning to launch a scheme that will reduce the time of clearing an accident scene to 12 minutes. The project is also expected to reduce traffic snarls and associated expenses by 25 per cent, the RTA said on Tuesday.

Details of the project were discussed in a meeting between Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, and Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police.

The meeting also focused on the management of traffic movement during mega-events in Dubai, security of public transport means and the enhancement of traffic enforcement measures on the movement of trucks in residential areas.

The project is part of the RTA's aim of reducing the time taken in managing traffic accidents and reinstating traffic back to normal in the shortest time possible. Under the scheme, the authority will provide the logistical support needed by the police during the management of traffic accidents involving the provision of alternative roads, diversions and other measures. It will also ensure rapid deployment before congestion builds up or the occurrence of secondary accidents. The scheme also includes delivering assistance to motorists experiencing vehicle breakdown by removing them from traffic lanes and coordinating their immediate clearance.

Al Tayer and Al Marri discussed traffic bottlenecks in residential areas bordering Sharjah, such as Al Mizhar, Al Khawaneej, Oud Al Mateena and Al Muhaisna as well as the efforts of the RTA to ease the mobility of residents of the neighbourhood. Such efforts include construction of road network linking Dubai and the northern emirates and enforcing ban on movement of trucks and worker buses in residential areas adjacent to the northern emirates.

The RTA also presented road improvement projects capable of diverting some of the traffic from the Emirates Road such as the extension of Tripoli Street, Al Khawaneej Street, Airport Street, and Al Awir Road. The RTA has introduced improvements of some intersections on Amman Street in a sector parallel to workers' accommodation. It has been agreed to intensify the traffic enforcement measures on the movement of trucks in the area with the aim of alleviating congestions experienced by residents.

The meeting also touched on RTA's needs from Dubai Police to enhance the role of the EC3 such as providing a real-time link of accident data, and providing instant information about emergency road closures. In return, the RTA has provided a meeting room and office for police officers.

Al Tayer commended the strategic partnership between the RTA and the General HQ of the Dubai Police and the existing cooperation in managing traffic movement and enforcement issues.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai