Dubai: Three more U-turns and left turns along the Dubai tramway will be opened for vehicular traffic in September, after the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) successfully opened U-turns on Al Sayora-Al Sufouh streets in March.
RTA announced on Monday that it will reopen left and U-turns at the intersections of Al Marsa-Al Sayora streets, Al Marsa-Al Sufouh streets, and Al Marsa-Al Shurta streets at the Dubai Marina along the track of the Dubai Tram.
Following the inauguration of Dubai Tram in November 2014, the authority, in coordination with Dubai Police, had closed down all left and U-turns along the tramway to avoid accidents.
In order to ensure zero accidents involving trams and to improve traffic movement, RTA set up a specialist committee under the leadership of an international consultant.
The committee has drawn up a comprehensive plan to realise the Tram/Roads Safety Strategy.
“Under the strategy, several preventive measures have been set to eliminate potential accidents between the tram and vehicles due to turns at the intersection of Al Marsa Street with Al Sayora, Al Sufouh and Al Shurta streets at the Dubai Marina, and along the track of the Tram extending 10.6km,” said Maitha Mohammad Bin Adai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency.
She added: “Among the key factors underlying the closure of these turns is offering a chance for motorists to acquaint themselves with the movement of the tram in this area, and maintain the safety of tram riders as well as all road users. The reopening of these turns will be subjected to monitoring for three months, and additional measures will be taken accordingly, if needed.”
She urged all road users to abide by traffic and driving rules, and pay attention to traffic lights to avoid accidents.
However, after ensuring that road users had become accustomed to the existence and movement of the tram, and the success of the opening of left and U-turns at the intersection of Al Sayora-Al Sufouh streets at JBR in March, more turns are set to open.
The opening of these turns follows the successful completion of the first stage of the traffic plan that began in March. The U-turns at the intersection of Al Sufouh-Al Gharbi Streets will be opened in early September.
As part of RTA’s safety measures, all traffic lights turn red once the tram approaches a junction.
A radar system and sensors also alert the tram driver of an approaching vehicle.
The tram is also equipped with sophisticated technologies to alert the tram driver in case of speeding, and the tram speed will automatically be reduced in case of no response from the driver.
The tram operator has a code of conduct, which is enforced in case a tram driver commits multiple offences posing risks to road users.
