Dubai motorists spent 29 hours in traffic congestion in 2017

Dubai - The UAE has been trying to increase the use of public transport.

There is one vehicle for three persons on average in the UAE while the enforcement of the traffic laws and regulations is the strictest and best in the country among regional countries, reveals a new report. 
In total, there were 3.39 million vehicles registered in the UAE in 2016. And for a population of 9.27 million, there were 2.99 million cars and 4-wheeled light vehicles were registered in 2016, according to Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018 released by World Health Organisation on Friday.
The ratio of car ownership and registration is higher in richer emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In the Northern Emirate of Dubai, there is one vehicle every two residents or 540 vehicles per 1,000 people. In 2014, there were 1.4 million at the end of 2014.
In the UAE capital, according to the Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department of the Abu Dhabi Police, there were 1.01 million vehicles in 2015.
In order to improve traffic flow and reduce vehicles on the roads, the UAE has been trying to increase the use of public transport.
However, a report by Inrix revealed earlier this year that motorists in Dubai spent 29 hours in traffic congestion last year, 22 hours by Fujairah residents, 12 hours by Al Ain residents and 13 hours by Abu Dhabi motorists.
According to Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018, there were 237,427 heavy trucks, 102,779 buses and 54,581 motorised 2 and 3 wheelers in the UAE in 2016.
In terms of enforcement of regulations, the UAE achieved the highest rating of 10 for safer road usage, drink-driving law, motorcycle helmet, and seat belt.
There were 725 road traffic deaths reported in 2016 in the UAE and the authorities are targeting to reduce traffic fatalities to 3 deaths per 100,000 population by 2021.
-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com