Traffic watch

Don't you just hate traffic? Especially in Dubai, with perennially congested roads, and those that could be blocked at a moment's notice.

Whether it is the soul-destroying congestion, accidents, or best routes to avoid the jams, traffic is often the number one topic of conversation in Dubai.

And wouldn't it be heaven if we were able to tap into the police control centre to find out which routes are backed up and those that are still clear, or even have someone suggest a different road to take?

Helping hand

With the new Traffic Watch section being launched today by the Gulf News website, we aim to provide a little bit of a helping hand.

Put in its simplest terms, Gulf News has teamed up with Dubai Police to provide a daily online guide to the latest problems on the roads of the emirate.

We will work directly with the Dubai Police traffic control room, to provide the latest news from Dubai's roads as soon as it happens, as well as suggesting alternative, less congested routes.

If there is a jam on Al Wasl Road, you'll know about it. If interchange five is running slowly, you can find out about it before you leave for work or head back home.

Your input

But it isn't just a one-way service. If you are stuck in a jam, or hit unexpected traffic you can send your own report to Gulf News by sending an SMS to 6363 (etisalat) or by emailing traffic@gulfnews.com

We will then verify the report and add the update to the site to ensure the most comprehensive coverage possible.

It's not the newest idea in the history of the world, and we certainly aren't re-inventing the wheel. We may not be able to answer all your questions at some points, but what we are hoping to do is provide a service which will benefit Gulf News readers across the emirate of Dubai.

The new service will run every day of the week from Sunday to Thursday in the mornings from 7.45am and in the afternoons from around 3.30pm.

Peak times

The initial story in the morning will be updated as and when reports come in from the police or from readers. After rush hour finishes, the next major update will come from Dubai Police at 3.30pm.

We've chosen these times and days because, as per traffic statistics, they coincide with the start of the rush-hour in earnest, and because the traffic at the weekends is usually light.

However, if something major happens during off-peak hours, we will have details of the congestion on the site as soon as we possibly can.

Essentially, we are giving commuters access to the high-tech workings of the police control room, the nerve centre of the city covering every major road.

With access to helicopters, live, real-time maps of Dubai and an extensive CCTV network covering the road, the Command and Control centre allows Dubai Police to closely and effectively monitor any problems from one centre.

It is with information from this centre that the initial reports and updates will be filed to the website.

These bulletins will appear on the website www.gulfnews.com and on your phones via the mobile edition www.gulfnews.com/mobile

This means that readers will be able to log on to check the latest traffic news, and if a road has been blocked by an accident they can find out in advance and plan an alternative route.

This isn't a solution to Dubai's traffic problems. But we hope it will make your lives just a little bit easier before you hit the roads for that long haul home.

How it works

Gulf News reporter will file the latest traffic news with information direct from Dubai Police at 7.45am and 3.30pm each day. The news will detail all major incidents, which roads are blocked and which alternative routes which could be taken.

Then:

At a glance

To find out the latest traffic news log into the website: www.gulfnews.com

Connect via your mobile phone by visiting www.gulfnews.com/mobile

You can send SMS reports to 6363 (etisalat)

Send feedback on how we could improve the service: readers@gulfnews.com