Sharjah: Sharjah Police here are deploying a new service provider ‘Rafid’ to respond and record minor traffic accidents in Sharjah effective Wednesday.
Motorists can download the Rafid app and send a picture of an accident which a traffic expert will assess and issue a report.
Motorists will be charged Dh350 fee for reporting their accident on the new Rafid Accident Reporting App on their smartphone.
Clarification: The fee is Dh400 if Rafid staff attends the scene. If the motorist uses the app, the amount is reduced by Dh50 and the motorist will have to pay Dh350.
Rafid replaces Saaed
The system will replace in the emirate the existing Saaed accident-reporting service now in place in most emirates across the country.
Dubai has its own police app on which motorists report minor accidents but no fees are charged.
Specially designated Rafid staff members — not Sharjah Police officers — will start responding to motorists involved in minor accidents in the emirate who request service on the new Rafid Accident Reporting App, said owners Sharjah Asset Management, the investment arm of the Government of Sharjah.
Details about response time and fees to attend the accidents were announced on Monday during a press conference held at the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club and attended by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Saud Al Qasimi, chairman of Sharjah Finance Department and chairman of Sharjah Asset Management.
During the press conference, Rafid officials launched the app in collaboration with the Sharjah Police Department.
Salim Saeed Al Midfa, general manager of Rafid, said the fees for reporting a minor accident will be Dh400 if the Rafid staff member goes to the accident site; if the person uses the Rafid application only to report the accident, then the fee will be Dh50 less, or Dh350.
In case of dispute
In cases where two motorists dispute who caused an accident, the fee will be Dh300 for a Rafid staff member to visit the scene.
Response time for a Rafid staff member to respond to the accident scene is 15 minutes and under.
The Rafid fleet at the first stage consists of 50 vehicles and motorcycles and it will cover the entire emirate.
A total of 120 traffic experts will work in the first stage, 30 per cent of whom, are Emiratis.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Saud Al Qasimi said: “The smartphone app initiative is in line with the vision of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to transform Sharjah into a technologically innovative city, with the best and most advanced technology within its services. We have worked very hard to make sure our application is easy and simple to use.”
Colonel Dr Ahmad Saeed Al Naour, Deputy Director-General of Sharjah Police, said around 300 minor accidents are recorded in Sharjah every day.
Col Al Naour added: “We are excited to offer Sharjah residents with a viable replacement to Saaed. Rafid is an innovative solution that provides the ease of convenience in reporting minor road accidents. Motorists no longer have to wait for police patrol to arrive to the accident site to investigate and issue a police report, which can be time consuming and an unnecessary use of police resources.”
What is Rafid?
Rafid is a cost-saving solution that cuts down overhead.
Through it, motorists no longer have to wait for police patrol to arrive to the accident site to investigate and issue a police report — which can be time consuming and an unnecessary use of police resources.
As such, police can attend to concerns and provide services for the citizens of Sharjah where they are most needed.
Rafid is expected to speed up investigations and reporting accidents and assuring an expedient response to emergencies.
How it works
Motorists can download the Rafid app [on Android and Apple App store] and send a picture of an accident, following which a traffic expert would assess the accident and issue a report.
Three languages will be available in the app: Arabic, English and Urdu.
The Rafid headquarters building is near Sharjah Road and Transport Department.
Fifteen people will work in the operating room around the clock in shifts. They will answer callers in Arabic, English and Urdu.
You can contact Rafid on 80072343 or 901.
