Sharjah Police launch hi-tech patrol cars

Sharjah: The Sharjah Police on Sunday introduced new patrol vehicles equipped with advanced security system to be used by traffic police.

These vehicles equipped with advanced cameras are connected to the police operations room and provide regular updates about road safety and traffic flow.

The cameras have multiple uses, including ability to read car number plates and monitor traffic flow and catch traffic violators.

According to Sharjah Police, the objective is to enhance traffic safety on roads, reduce accidents and fatalities in addition to curb crimes and provide safety cover for residents.

As many as eight new patrols vehicles were launched during the first stage and it will be increased in future.

Moreover, Anjad Patrol vehicles have been deployed on the roads with its new design.

The project has been launched to follow the vision of the Ministry of Interior that aims at making UAE one of the safest countries in the world.

The new patrols were launched as part of the 33 GCC Traffic Week which kicked off in the UAE and GCC countries on Sunday. It’s slogan, “Your Life is a Trust”, aims to encourage people to take care of themselves on the road.

The opening ceremony held at Sharjah University and attended by number of senior police officers including, Brigadier Saif Al Ziri Al Shamsi, Sharjah Police commander-in-chief; Colonel Abdullah Mubarak Bin Amer, deputy chief of Sharjah Police; Colonel Mohammad Rashid Bayat, director of operations, in addition to Professor Hamid Al Nuaimi, director of Sharjah University, as well as directors of government departments.

Brigadier Al Shamsi said road deaths had been falling in Sharjah in the last couple of years, but they needed to work to reduce traffic fatalities even further.

The number of fatalities from traffic accidents decreased by 17.6 per cent in 2016, compared to 2015. Last year, traffic accidents resulted in 131 deaths, while 159 people died in such accidents in 2015.

Meanwhile, the police recorded 1,478,775 traffic violations in 2016.

Police launched 21 traffic campaigns last year which helped bring down the number of accidents [including collision, run-over accidents and overturning] to 607, from 679 in 2015. Cases of serious injuries in accidents also dropped by 24 per cent — from 86 in 2015 to 65 in 2016.

Sharjah Police are focusing on reducing traffic accidents, fatalities and injuries and not focusing on fining motorists, Brig. Al Shamsi pointed out.

“The issue of traffic safety is attracting more attention than before as it is a part of the Ministry of Interior strategy,” said Brig. Al Shamsi. “We are intensifying our efforts to enhance traffic safety in the emirate and reduce fatal accidents as well as the death rate.”

“Ensuring safety is one of the challenges that faces all governments around the world. We are trying hard to improve road safety and are working with various authorities in cases where we find that faulty design of roads are leading to accidents,” he said. “We are focusing on several accident-prone areas, including Maliha Road, Al Dhaid-Sharjah Road, Emirates Road, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road and Sharjah Ring Road.”

He said Sharjah agencies charged with keeping roads safe are particularly targeting Maliha Road.

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