RTA proposes ways to curb traffic congestion in Dubai

Dubai - Dubai's proposals could go a long way in easing congestion on the roads

To curb traffic congestion in Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is proposing various measures at local and federal levels, including regulating the issuance of driving licences for certain work categories and amending vehicle registration fees based on distance travelled annually.
The proposals are contained in a response by Mattar Al Tayer, RTA director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors, to an opinion piece recently published in an Arabic newspaper.
The RTA did not specify the work categories for the issuance of driving licences but among the other federal measures the authority mentioned include the amendment in the registration and licensing fees of vehicles and linking them to engine and fuel capacity and total distance travelled annually; granting incentives for environment-friendly vehicles; regulating the licensing of old vehicles; imposing variable insurance according to the number of accidents and distance travelled; and imposition of fuel price charges.
Reacting to the proposals, Ian Littlefield, training and quality manager at Dubai Driving Centre, told Khaleej Times that "restricting licences for certain work categories could have human rights implications."
"But if this is done based on their requirement for transport such as ensuring that they don't need their own car due to the provision of excellent high quality mass transportation services for workers and providing good infrastructure such as leisure facilities shops and places to eat near their accommodation, it (the measure) could work." 
Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, noted that "there is an element of fairness by linking certain fees and regulations to the amount of roads and vehicle usage, kilometres driven on the road, infrastructure, and so on."
"Some measures exist already in other countries, and for sure are fair," he pointed out.
Edelmann explained that certain regulations have the ability to reduce or channel traffic - like Salik - "but when we reflect on traffic jams in the UAE these are often linked to misbehaviour of motorists which leads to accidents, which in turn leads to traffic jams and congestion."
He suggested that other ways to reduce road congestions would be to increase the average number of passengers per vehicle and giving incentives for carpooling.
Littlefield, for his part, also called on the RTA "to charge larger and more polluting vehicles a fee to enter the city at peak times."
The RTA, meanwhile, proposed a comprehensive housing policy for low-income residents to ease the movement of people in Dubai and neighbouring Emirates. Al Tayer noted that many residents work in Dubai but live in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and even as far as Ras Al Khaimah to avoid the higher rent charges in Dubai, but resulting in more travel time.
The RTA also suggested flexible working hours and alternative timings for different activities, specifically at work places and schools in Dubai.

- angel@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai