Sharjah: The special road service programme, Saaed, that deals with minor traffic accidents in 15 minutes is gearing up to patrol the emirate’s roads starting Thursday.
Colonel Shawaf Mohammad Abdul Rahman, Director-General of the Traffic and Patrols department at Sharjah Police, told Gulf News that Saaed staff were working with Sharjah’s Anjad traffic patrol to familiarise themselves with the city’s roads. The Saeed team will start their duties on May 30.
The initiative means the police can focus on more serious issues, Major General Humaid Mohammad Al Hudaidi, Commander in Chief of Sharjah Police, said. A similar roadside service is available in Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain.
Major General Al Hudaidi signed a memorandum with Brigadier Hussain Al Harithy, Chairman of Saaed, who also serves as director of Traffic Engineering and Safety at Abu Dhabi Police on May 16 to activate Saaed’s role on Sharjah’s roads. The Saeed team has since been working with the Anjad traffic patrol.
Saaed is responsible for dealing with all minor accidents that don’t involve injuries. A further 15 minutes is allocated to finalise the accident documentation.
Major General Al Hudaidi stressed the importance of the initiative undertaken by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to adopt Saaed in Sharjah.
“Part of the patrols currently operating in the field will focus on security work and intensify their efforts to combat negative behaviours and curb any security and community phenomena and crimes in all their forms,” Major General Al Hudaidi said.
He said around 400 minor traffic incidents were recorded daily in Sharjah and attending them and following them up required a significant amount of time.
The company’s 20-strong of fleet of cars and bikes receive accident information from the police operations room. The Saaed traffic expert prepare reports to help determine liability by using an electronic system.
In case a party disputes the result the issue will be referred to the police but if the result is accepted by all parties, every party will be given a receipt which means people can check and review insurance information as the accident report will be sent automatically to insurance companies. Motorists can also look at the report on the Saaed website, www.saaed.ae.
In the event of a Saaed traffic expert asking a motorist to go the police station, motorists are urged to attend as quickly as possible to avoid delays in finalising procedures.
According to Saaed statistics, the Saaed teams have been responding to incidents within ten minutes. Three languages are used at the Saaed operation room, Arabic, English and Urdu.
Brigadier Al Harithy said: “Saaed Company’s Operations Rooms will be located next to Sharjah Police operations room to receive minor accidents reports, to ensure a quick response of traffic experts, to reconstruct minor accidents, to identify the party to be blamed for the accident through the collection of information on site and adopting integrated technological administrative systems. It is the first national company of its kind in the Middle East which presents integrated systems to manage minor accidents.”
Brigadier Al Harithy said the company’s aim was not profit but to enhance safety and traffic movement on the roads.
“At the beginning, like any company, we will face of course some problems, until motorists become familiar with the ‘Saeed’ programme.”
The fleet is allocated just for Sharjah city and if the numbers of vehicles are found to be inadequate they will be increased.
“We wish all motorists to cooperate with Saaed staff,” Brigadier Al Harithy said.
“We hope that the initiation of Saaed to Sharjah will raise the level of traffic safety awareness and instil a culture of safety into the minds of motorists and pedestrians.”
Brigadier Al Harithy said: “This represents a major challenge for the company to pursue further excellence in providing services according to the best international practices, within the Emirate of Sharjah. It also is an incentive to actively contribute and support the efforts of the emirate to improve traffic systems and enhance planning and reconstitution of minor traffic accidents, already implemented successfully in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain and it will be launched in Ajman during the coming period.”
“The launch of the Saaed service in Sharjah will achieve greater efficiency through the use of modern technologies to increase the effectiveness of control, quick achievement of traffic works and follow up to achieve the highest standards of performance”, Col Abdul Rahman added.
