Taking a toll on Dubai drivers

Today the road toll system known as Salik comes into force. The experiment, introduced by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), is designed to reduce the number of vehicles using the busiest highway into Dubai, the Shaikh Zayed Road.

The RTA believes the traffic will reduce by as much as 20 per cent, thereby reducing congestion and traffic jams on that road. However, such figures are mere speculation and it is only the fullness of time that the benefits, if any, are able to be determined.

It could be possible that such optimistic forecasts prove right, but what may not show up is the amount of congestion and tailbacks that occur on parallel roads like Emirates Road, Al Wasl Road and Jumairah Beach Road.

Already these so-called alternative roads suffer daily from over-crowding, causing frustration in the extreme to commuters. The prospect of having 20 per cent or more of the Shaikh Zayed traffic diverted to these alternative roads looks very bleak indeed.

Had a toll system been introduced when other forms of transport are available to the public, like the Metro and frequent bus services, then imposing a toll on such a busy road would doubtless have caused less resentment.