Motorists welcome removal of speed buffer in Abu Dhabi
SPEED LIMITS WILL BE SAME AS THOSE ON SIGNBOARDS WITHOUT 20KM/H BUFFER FROM TODAY
Till now, a driver was able to go up to 140km/h in a 120km/h zone and to 120km/h in a 100km/h zone, but from today speed cameras will catch him if he exceeds the speed limits in those zones.
Motorists in Abu Dhabi have mostly welcomed the removal of the 20km/h speed buffer in the emirate, saying the new system will lead to less confusion on the road as all drivers will be following one set of speed limits.
Starting today, motorists throughout the emirate of Abu Dhabi will no longer have the luxury of exceeding the stated speed limits without being fined, according to Abu Dhabi Police.
Radars on different roads have been reset as per the amended speed limits on the emirate’s roads, which means motorists will be penalised for driving even one kilometre per hour over the specified speed limit. New speed limit signs have been installed, and the police launched extensive awareness campaigns among the public to educate them on the new speed limits and removal of the speed buffer on all roads in the emirate.
The buffer that allows drivers to travel up to 20km/h above the designated speed limit on roads was removed and has been replaced with uniform speed limits on roads. The Department of Transport and the Urban Planning Department of the Abu Dhabi Police had stated in July that the decision would prevent confusion and improve road safety. Police said that the decision was being implemented on the basis of traffic accident indicators, research and studies aimed at attaining the highest levels of traffic safety and easing traffic congestion. Till now, a driver was able to go up to 140km/h in a 120km/h zone and to 120km/h in a 100km/h zone, but from today speed cameras will catch him if he exceeds the designated speed limits in those zones.
Police also called on motorists to respect the new speed rule and launched a comprehensive campaign using platforms such as the social media, displays on public transport vehicles, taxis and in newspapers, to make the public aware of changes in speed limits and the removal of the 20km/h buffer.
Colonel Jamal Al Ameri, executive director of Saaed Society and a traffic expert, said the new system was part of Abu Dhabi’s plan to improve road safety. “A lot of studies were carried out before taking the decision to implement this new system, and all the studies showed that removing the grace speed and having one speed limit would make the roads safer, and that is why the new system was put in place.
“The new system is also part of a broader strategy of improving the overall road safety standards in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and that includes building new infrastructure for roads, bridges and tunnels,” he added.
The system in Abu Dhabi is now like in other countries, where they just have one speed limit without any grace limit. Tourists often got confused by the grace speed rule.” Khalid Al Hammadi | Emirati
Having one system will lead to less traffic disparity on the roads, there will be one number that all are following — if the sign says 80km/h that’s the speed people will drive up to.” Sean Barcoe | American
When I first came to Abu Dhabi I was confused by the grace speed allowance, it didn’t make much sense to me and so I think it’s great that the system is being changed.” Cecilia Chung | Korean
I just moved here three months ago and was initially told about the 20km/h grace speed and I got used to that system. I am a little concerned as there isn’t that buffer speed.” Russel Underwood | American