Speed limit may revert to 120km/h on highway

Authorities to compare accident statistics before taking a decision

The speed limit on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road might revert to 120km/h next year if the number of casualties on the road remains the same as they were before reducing the speed limit, a top traffic police officer said.

Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Dubai Police’s Assistant Commander-in-chief for Operations and head of the UAE Federal Traffic Council, said six months after reducing the speed limit on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road to 110km/h, they will assess and make comparisons with accident statistics and if the results are the same or worse than before the speed limit revision authorities might reinstate the old speed limit.

“When we reduced the speed limit from 120km/h to 110km/h our aim was to save lives and statistics before and after six months [of the change] at least will determine that. If the comparison results are the same or negative on March 15, then I promise to apologise and work with the RTA to revert to the speed as it was,” Major General Al Zafein tweeted.

The maximum speed limit on two major highways of Dubai, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road, was reduced on October 15.

According to Dubai Police, both highways have accounted for the deaths of 39 people each from the beginning of last year, which forced the authorities to revise the speed limit as at least 60 per cent of the accidents were associated with speeding.