New scheme to cut time for clearing accident site

Dubai: A latest Traffic Accidents Management Scheme is set to contribute to cutting accidents clearance time by 36 per cent.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police held a co-ordination meeting to discuss the scheme, which aims to ensure rapid deployment to clear vehicles involved in minor traffic accidents, or vehicles that break down on roads in order to reduce traffic jams, streamline traffic flow in accident sites, cut short the time needed for removal of vehicles involved in accidents and avert the occurrence of secondary accidents resulting from sudden traffic jams.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), discussed the scheme with Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Acting Chief of Dubai Police.

During the meeting, a video presentation was made on Traffic Accidents Management Scheme. It is set to contribute, upon completion, to cutting accidents clearance time by 36 per cent, reducing clearance time of bigger accidents, which usually require more than 90 minutes, by a percentage ranging from 25 to 70 per cent, and minimising the occurrence of secondary accidents.

"Traffic jams result in annual financial losses of up to Dh4.6 billion to the emirate of Dubai. According to surveys carried out by the RTA, there are several factors that contribute to traffic bottlenecks among which is the limited capacity of the roads network," Al Tayer said.

He said RTA's Strategic Plan addresses this aspect through widening of various road projects, constructing new roads and traffic links, and increasing the number of lanes crossing Dubai Creek, which increased from 19 at when the the RTA was set up to 48 lanes in 2008, and is set to increase further to 100 by 2020.

"Traffic jams are also triggered by traffic accidents and vehicle breakdowns. Last year, the number of minor traffic accidents was as high as 261,000 and the number of vehicle breakdown is estimated as 250,000 per annum," he said.

Al Tayer said tailbacks are also caused by the limited use of mass transit modes; which currently account for just six per cent of total riders, whereas this ranges from 40 to 80 per cent in advanced countries.