Steps to reduce traffic congestion and enhance road safety under way

Abu Dhabi: Using real-time data from traffic sensors to reduce congestion and enhance road safety, Adaptive Traffic Signal Control Systems are expected to be set up at 126 intersections across Abu Dhabi island by the end of the year, a Department of Transport (DoT) official said.

Currently, Mohammad Bin Zayed City and Ras Al Akhdar area are both home to these road signal control systems which aim to enhance the smooth flow of traffic. Initially a trans-emirate project was expected to be completed by first quarter of this year.

By primarily relying on current information, such as the number of vehicles at a given intersection, to properly distribute traffic the integrated network of systems means that traffic signal timings are optimised, Hamad Al Afeefi, Acting Director of Traffic Management Technology at the DoT, said.

Al Afeefi also spoke at a traffic safety conference in the capital last week which was attended by a number of international experts in the field who called for the use of smart technology in vehicles and on the roads to improve the current situation.

Road accidents are the eighth leading cause of non-natural deaths across the world, and are also the main cause of fatalities among the 15-29 age group, a spokesperson from the International Road Federation (IRF) revealed at the conference.

Speaking at the event, Dr Adnan Rahman, director-general of the IRF, said: “Some of the main uses of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are to promote safe driving in traffic, prevent unsafe driving behaviour and reducing accident severity.”

In vehicles, some examples of ITS include electronic stability control which prevents the loss of traction during turns or sudden movements, intelligent speed control assistants which warn users when speed limits are exceeded and can automatically reduce speeds, collision avoidance systems which warn when the distance between vehicles is too short and night vision systems which assist in driving during dark conditions.

In line with the DoT’s strategy, Dr Rahman said that to unleash the full potential of ITS, governments need to ensure the incorporation of this technology in their transport policies, enhance ITS partnerships and collaboration and stimulate education in the field.