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Stricter monitoring of bus and taxi lanes in Dubai

The exclusive public bus and taxi lane will improve public buses’ punctuality and shorten the time taken by taxis to reach customers.

To improve bus and taxi services, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plans to have dedicated lanes while the bus route surveillance system will track down private vehicles that stray on these lanes.

Mattar Al Tayer, RTA board Chairman and Executive Director, said the exclusive public bus and taxi lane will improve public buses’ punctuality and shorten the time taken by taxis to reach customers. They will also reduce operational costs, minimise emissions and employ the best international practices for running a public transport system

Al Tayer also said the RTA and Dubai Police will study the trial run of the “pool vehicles” project on Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road meant to encourage people to share a vehicle to reduce traffic congestion on Dubai’s streets.

At a meeting held on Wednesday with Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Commander in Chief of Dubai Police, RTA and Dubai Police set up a team headed by Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, Assistant Commander of Dubai Police for Operation Affairs. The other team members are Engineer Maitha bint Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic and Roads Agency, and RTA and Dubai Police officials.

The panel will appoint a consultant to suggest how to manage traffic accidents and make the accident management plan world-class.

“The material cost of delay resulting from traffic accidents puts a huge burden on the emirate,” said Al Tayer. “Road authorities in advanced countries such as the USA and UK have teams to manage traffic accidents in collaboration with the police, ambulance and civil defence departments. These teams are responsible for instantly responding to accidents. They manage traffic movement at the accident scene and neighbourhood, protect the site, clear the road as quickly as possible and avert secondary accidents.”

The RTA and Dubai Police have signed a memorandum of understanding.

Major-General Al Mazeina stressed the importance of coordination and continual communication between Dubai Police general headquarters and the RTA for improving traffic safety level, joint campaigns, and sharing expertise and practices.

lily@khaleejtimes.com