Proposal to scrap speed limit margin in UAE under study
TRAFFIC-RELATED DEATHS DECLINED 8% FROM JANUARY TO AUGUST 26 THIS YEAR
Traffic departments are studying a proposal to unify speed limits and margins across the UAE in a bid to reduce accidents caused by speeding.
Speed margin, also known as grace or buffer, lets a driver exceed the speed limit by a certain margin before speed radars are activated.
In a meeting with directors of traffic departments and representatives of relevant government departments, Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, director of the Federal Traffic Council, discussed unifying speed limits and speed margins on all roads in the country or cancelling the margins altogether.
The meeting was held at the Dubai Police Officers Club last Thursday, officials said yesterday.
“We discussed the issue of having a speed limit on all roads in the UAE and cancellation of speed margins. We decided to give this matter more time for further detailed and comprehensive consideration, in order to identify how much it helps reduce traffic accidents,” Maj Gen Al Zafein said.
Dubai, for example has a speed margin of 20km/h on all roads, while Abu Dhabi abolished the margin last month. On August 12, Abu Dhabi Police removed the 20km/h speed buffer that motorists have always taken for granted.
The amended speed limits no longer include the 20km/h speed buffer. For example, ■ if a road has a speed limit of 80km/h, drivers no longer have a buffer of up to 100km/h. Those caught driving even at 81km/h are now caught on radars and receive a fine.
In an earlier statement, Major General Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Commander-inChief of Abu Dhabi Police, said a comprehensive study was undertaken before deciding to implement the new system to help raise road safety standards.
The council reviewed and amended the clauses of a number of articles in the Federal Traffic Law, discussing some of the provisions and definitions related to the law alongside a number of topics concerning the Traffic Death Index nationwide.
Mortality index
Meanwhile, members of the council were briefed on the road traffic mortality index, which indicated a decline by 8 per cent in the country’s death rate from January to August 26 this year, and the most common causes of traffic deaths nationwide.
Maj-Gen Al Zafein hailed the role and efforts undertaken by traffic and patrols directorates to maintain traffic discipline in order to reduce the death rate on all roads, and maintaining road security.
“This is considered to be the main goal for traffic and patrols directorates. Combining our efforts will reduce traffic deaths,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of raising awareness by ensuring traffic safety and achieving the strategic goals of traffic and patrols directorates, consisting of lowering traffic accidents and limiting the death rate.