Be warned: Speed limit reduced on 2 key roads
dubai — Those whizzing at over 139kph on the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Emirates roads, take note: The speed limit on both roads has been reduced. From October 15, the speed limits on these roads will be 110kph instead of the current 120kph.
The decision taken by the Dubai Police and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) aims to curb the number of traffic accidents seen on these roads. According to the police, six people lost their lives and 78 were injured in 99 traffic accidents in the first six months of this year on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road. During the same period, 10 people died and 75 people were injured in 40 accidents on the Emirates Road.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
dubai — The Dubai Police and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have reduced the speed limit on two major roads — Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road — from 120kmph to 110kmph.
The decision, which will go into effect from October 15, has been taken as part of the two parties’ efforts to curb traffic accidents and ensure the road users’ safety.
Maitha bin Adai, CEO of traffic and roads agency at the RTA, said: “Lowering the speed limits on the two roads is a result of elaborate traffic safety studies and analyses of traffic accident data along with their causes over the past years. It resulted in addressing several traffic safety requirements such as pedestrian bridges, safety rails, and truck lay-by areas.”
The current capacity of the two roads is about 12,000 vehicles per hour, in each direction. Among the 7,009 vehicles on the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road towards Abu Dhabi, trucks account for 6 per cent. Traffic studies indicated the number of vehicles in Sharjah direction numbered 7,821, of which trucks comprise 12 per cent.
For Emirates Road, statistics show that the capacity in the Abu Dhabi direction is 6,442 vehicles (6 per cent are trucks), and the number of vehicles heading to Sharjah is 3,416 (14 per cent trucks).
“The decision is mainly intended to curb traffic accidents resulting from speeding, especially as the two roads witness huge volumes of heavy vehicles in both directions. Controlling the speed limits is one of the most effective measures to reduce accidents.
“The procedure to control speed limits is based on several criteria highlighted by the design speed of the road, and the actual speed followed by the majority of drivers,” said bin Udai.
According to traffic safety studies, several hotspots that witnessed recurrent accidents have been examined, to take corrective measures as per the speed management guide in Dubai.
“One of the key factors for controlling the speed limits in Dubai is through speed cameras (radars). Accordingly, the radar tolerance or the difference between the speed limit and the enforcement speed has been aligned with the world’s best practices for the safety of lives of road users,” said Maitha.
Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, assistant commander-in-chief of the Dubai Police and Federal Traffic, said the objective of reducing the speed limits is to step up the safety of users of both roads. Speed is a key contributing or associated factor for not less than 60 per cent of traffic road fatalities.“The move is compatible with the Dubai Police strategy aimed at reducing traffic accidents to zero percent per 100 of the population,” Maj-Gen Al Zafeen said.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
Maitha bin Adai, CEO of traffic and roads agency, RTA
The procedure to control speed limits is based on several criteria highlighted by the design speed of the road, and the actual speed followed by the majority of drivers.”