Abu Dhabi: A total of 185 new radars have been installed on internal and external roads across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Police announced in a statement sent on Saturday.
The radars were installed in Abu Dhabi city and Al Ain during the first three months of 2014 as part of an effort to detect speeding motorists as well as those who jump red lights, the statement added.
The installation of new technologies, such as radars and cameras at signalised intersections, is being undertaken to ensure traffic safety and reduce the number of road traffic fatalities to zero by 2030, said Colonel Khalifa Al Khaili, director of traffic engineering and road safety at the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate.
“The radars can detect speeding motorists on all lanes and in both directions of a road. In addition, they will help us monitor other traffic violations, including not leaving enough space between vehicles and driving on the hard shoulder,” Colonel Al Khaili said.
The official explained that the aim is to promote better compliance with road safety regulations. Motorists who fail to adhere to traffic laws risk their own safety as well as that of other road users, he added.
According to police statistics, speeding constituted nearly 79 per cent of traffic violations in the first quarter of the year. In 2013, 15 per cent of all road traffic accidents were caused by speeding motorists.
The sites for the radars have therefore been selected based on the areas which see a greater rate of traffic accidents and violations.
Colonel Al Khaili urged all motorists to adhere to traffic rules for their own safety, and not just to avoid detection by the radars. Drivers must pay attention to road signs and stay a safe distance away from other vehicles, he said.
During the first two months of the year, a total of 3,964 motorists were also caught running red lights. These violations were detected with the use of newly installed flash-less infrared cameras at signalised intersections, the police announced earlier. To reduce such violations, the directorate is therefore installing infrared cameras at 150 intersections in the emirate.
