Trial run of new accident management system on Mohammad Bin Zayed road

Dubai: Delays on Mohammad Bin Zayed road will reduce by 15 per cent from September 16 when the authorities will begin a trial run of a new accident management system, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Sunday.

The year-long trial run of the system, jointly implemented by Dubai Police and the RTA, will see better management of roads and traffic during accidents, vehicle break down, diversions or any other incidents.

The system, being studied since 2015, will cover a 70-kilometre stretch on Mohammad Bin Zayed Road.

The RTA has identified five locations along the highway to station the incident management vehicles, approximately 13km apart.

According to the RTA, the step aims to ensure clearance of vehicles involved in traffic accidents and vehicles breaking down on roads in around 10 minutes

“The ultimate objective is to streamline the traffic flow around the accident sites, cut short the time taken to remove crashed vehicles and fend off secondary accidents triggered by sudden snarls,” said Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and director general of the RTA.

The RTA and Dubai Police will deploy a joint team at the Command and Control Room of the Dubai Police. A process will be charted out for communication between the Operations Room, Traffic Control Centre and dedicated patrol vehicles on the E311.

Stepping up the traffic management efforts, the top management of both the RTA and Dubai Police met recently to discuss the ways to tackle the issue that costs Dubai’s economy dearly.

“The meeting focused on the management of traffic movement in Dubai with the aim of reducing the time taken in managing traffic accidents and reinstating traffic back to normal in the shortest time possible,” said Al Tayer.

Accidents and vehicle breakdowns are among the major causes of delays on highways, with 50 per cent of the traffic jams attributed to road mishaps.

According to RTA, accidents in Dubai cost the emirate’s economy Dh1.8 billion annually and overall, Dubai loses Dh3.5 billion annually in traffic congestions, including those caused by accidents.

“When implemented, the project is expected to reduce snarls and the associated expenses by 15 per cent. It will ensure the deployment and clearance of the accident scene within 10 minutes, slash the time taken to clear crashed vehicles, detect accidents, ensure rapid deployment before congestion builds up or the occurrence of secondary accidents,” said Al Tayer.

He added that the programme also includes delivering assistance to motorists experiencing vehicle breakdown by removing them from traffic lanes and coordinating their immediate clearance.

In 2015, RTA and Dubai Police set up three accident management units as build up to the same system and last year the the RTA began preparations for the trial. The latest trial is the continuation of the joint initiative.

He added that the RTA has a scheme to provide the logistical support needed by the Police during the management of traffic accidents involving the provision of alternative roads, diversions and other measures.

At 51 per cent, the contribution of accidents to Dubai’s annual loss due to congestions is one of the highest in the world in Dubai, compared to the average of 25 per cent in countries where advanced traffic system is in place.

The new accident management system is Dubai’s attempt to be on par with the leading cities in the world, employing advance mechanisms that will not only reduce the impact of accidents on traffic, but will devise ways to help reduce accidents.

According to RTA, Dubai’s road network doubled between 2006 and 2017, but the number of vehicles also more than doubled during same period from 740,000 to 1.7 million.