Create awareness on car-pooling

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has come up with interesting ideas to ease traffic congestion. One is car-pooling. Another is urging companies to provide bus transport for their employees, especially large establishments. And finally, there is a plan to introduce "flexible working hours".

These ideas are practical and not really difficult to implement. But they surely depend on the cooperation of the private sector. The most interesting, of course, is the car-pooling.

According to an RTA official, "now people can drive their friends and colleagues to and from their homes and workplaces without fear of getting fines", if they get approval from the agency.

With the rising cost of petrol, the idea also makes economic sense. Four or five people can share one car. It means four fewer cars on the roads and less petrol to buy. But this idea has to be promoted.

RTA and similar agencies in other emirates need to make people aware of its advantages through campaigns in the print and electronic media and the private sector.