Dubai: Trucks will be banned from Emirates Road from 6am and 10pm while cargo rail lines are under study in Dubai to reduce movement of heavy trucks - a leading cause of traffic congestion, according to a senior official who did not specify when this ban will be implemented.
The new initiatives are part of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) plans for massive overhauling of Dubai's traffic movement in a bid to ease congestion and reduce fatal road accidents.
RTA has joined hands with the Dubai Police Traffic Department to ensure safe and smooth vehicular movement in the city. It is conducting a comprehensive study in collaboration with the Dubai Police to find fresh solutions to burgeoning traffic congestion in the Emirate.
"We are developing a model plan for the movement of heavy vehicles and for building rail lines to transport cargo from the dry ports and cargo assembly points to the distribution centres," said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA.
However, he did not reveal any details about the rail lines for the cargo shipment. Al Tayer held a meeting with Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Dubai Police's deputy commander general, to discuss the issue of heavy vehicles and speed limits on Dubai roads.
The RTA's studies also included assessment of the current trucks movement, prohibited timings and routes and the need for dedicated heavy vehicle roads, and the organisational and structural aspects related to management of trucks and cargo movement in Dubai.
The existing prohibited timings on several roads including the Emirates Road are from 6.30am to 8.30 am, 1pm to 3 pm and 5.30 pm to 8 pm.
"Our analytical results of our studies have shown that traffic particularly on Emirates Road and generally in the city will improve considerably if the trucks are prohibited from using Emirates Roads from 6am to 10pm. Decision in this regard will be taken soon after the completion of roads linking Emirates Road and the Dubai Bypass Road," said Al Tayer.
He said the new ban timing will cut trucks' movement by 9,000 trucks per day or 700 trucks per hour during peak hours. It will also divert more traffic to both Al Khail Road and the Bypass Road.
Al Mazina asked RTA to build parking for trucks and provide public bus transport links to encourage truck drivers to use buses in between work.
Dubai There is a need to review the speed limit on a number of key roads in Dubai as more than 80 per cent of fatalities on roads are related to speeding, suggested officials at a high level meeting.
The meeting was attended by Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Dubai RTA and Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Dubai Police's Deputy Commander General.
After the meeting, a committee was also formed comprising representatives of the Dubai Traffic Police and the RTA to follow up on the Speed Management Scheme which will be implemented from May this year. "The Scheme aims to minimise fatalities and casualties resulting from speed-related accidents.
Black points: Truckers in top 10
The Dubai Police statistics showed that truck drivers were amongst the top ten who obtained the maximum number of black points for traffic violations. Bilal Khan, a Pakistani driver, got 187 black points followed by Kausar Khan with 168 black points and Ahsanullah Idris with 158 in 2008.
A driving licence has maximum of 24 black points. "These drivers were fined mostly for speeding, lane violation, driving trucks during prohibited time and jumping red signals.
Are heavy vehicles the reason for traffic congestion? Do you think the new ban will reduce traffic? Or will it be diverted to other routes? What could be done to help reduce the amount of vehicles on the road? Fill in the form bellow to send your comments.
Your comments
Every five kilometres there should be a police vehicle. This will really help the current atmosphere.
Nayeem Meraj
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 18, 2009, 18:38
Lorraine Partridge said the naked truth, I also strongly beleive. National Paints roundabout is most danger.
Nazeer
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 18, 2009, 17:28
If cargo rails come then it will surely increase the growth of country too as trading will increase in higher speed. When railways were made in India, it developed in business and trading all over the country. The railways will surely help in reducing trucks as well as growth in industries. This must have been done long time back but this decision is not late too as UAE is always in fast growing stage. I being the blood of UAE as my father worked here for last 30 years and I too joined working here for last three years have seen and given our best, we are happy to hear this great news of cargo rails coming as now metro trains are ready to run.
Vinod N. P.
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 18, 2009, 16:35
It's better to introduce rail systems in UAE connecting all emirates, which helps to reduce the number of vehicles in road, also for one to choose emirates for living. Cargo movement also will be possible with this.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 18, 2009, 13:45
Ban on heavy vehicles of course will reduce congestion. But meanwhile a lot to be done on widening of road infrastructure on bottlenecks.
Malek Emteyaz Ahmad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 18, 2009, 12:15
No I do not believe heavy vehicles are the reason for traffic congestion. The main reason is lane discipline of all vehicles. Many people who drive vehicles with tinted windows and SUVs think they own the roads. I would suggest that at exits where we have one or two lanes (which is most often made into 4 or 5) if a policeman cannot be made available, cameras should be installed. This is especially so for the traffic coming out of Sharjah and joining Emirates Road or some of the roads in Al Qusais. The road network in most of the UAE is fantastic, it's the unruly drivers who create havoc.
Lorraine Partridge
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 18, 2009, 12:08
It is really a right move, as the major reason for traffic is the trucks.
Satish Kumar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 18, 2009, 11:39
I visit Dubai on a regular basis and drive the main roads. The RTA had the opportunity to get this correct the first time and didn?t! They have not learned anything from history or from their past mistakes. Have some foresight to future growth in traffic movement and get it right, its like when they have built a bridge they put two lanes one each way and what happens when they extend the width of the road to four or six lanes in a short period of time to accommodate the traffic? Its still only a two lane bridge, there is always going to be trucks and if you ban them what are you going to do with the rest of the networks they are hooked up to? Oh yes! I forgot let?s just ask everybody to work nightshift! That will work. Then there would be no congestion during the day.
Brian Cumisky
Melbourne,Australia
Posted: February 18, 2009, 11:28
