Focus on external roads

Dubai: There is a study under way to close most U-turns that pose a danger to drivers, a senior official said on Saturday.

Badr Al Siri, Director of the Traffic Department at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), told Gulf News that the RTA is working to close U-turns that they see are dangerous and may cause accidents.

"We have already closed U-turns on Al Khawaneej Road and in Jumeirah near Choithram's and currently are focusing on closing most of the U-turns on external roads with high speed limits," he said.

Al Siri said traffic signals on these U-turns may solve the problem or make it worse.

According to international standards, U-turns cannot be traffic light controlled if the roads have speed limits of more than 80km/h.

He said the U-turns are provided to serve the public and give them a solution instead of driving for long distances and coming back.

Al Siri said there are two main factors that increase U-turn dangers.

One factor is the high speed of a vehicle because it is difficult to judge speed and distance. The second factor is the heavy traffic. The motorist gets frustrated and enters the road, which results in accidents.

If you put a timer in each signal the drivers will come to know how much time is left to cross the signal, so that they can manage the vehicle properly.
Shiju
Dubai,UAE

It's absurd even to think of closing U-turns! U-turns are essential for the road network in Dubai. They do save time, distance, and fuel, especially when you miss an exit or turn.
Sami
Dubai,UAE

The lack of U-turns is the actual problem, in some cases the only way to change direction is to drive for over 10 kilometres. This forces motorists to invent dangerous shortcuts or to try and rush through the limited available U-turns. It will also help if a small lane is created for busy U-turns to help vehicles accelerate safely without disrupting incoming traffic.
Karim
Dubai,UAE

The only safe traffic junction is one with traffic lights that are phased with all other approaching traffic lights, they in turn should be tied into an intelligent traffic management system that identifies traffic build up and changes light phasing accordingly. Roundabouts in the UAE are a joke, look at the Emirates Road roundabouts around rush hour especially at the Greens Community! The best move the RTA made was installing lights at the Arabian Ranches' roundabout.
Andy
Dubai,UAE

Have you seen the roads of Al Ain? You can find U-turns and roundabouts everywhere because the infrastructure allows that, the roads are small and full of speed breakers; thus no one can speed!
Sheharyaar
Dubai,UAE

We certainly need the U-turns, at least at the locations which could make our travel easier. To avert the dangers associated with it, they should be controlled by signals and synchronized so that there is little weaving with the incoming traffic.
Mohammed
Dubai,UAE

A small filter road could be made so that motorists can gain some speed before entering the road; it will more of changing lanes than crossing lanes from the stoppage point.
Faisal
Dubai,UAE

With a little regard and friendliness, traffic in Dubai would be much safer. If I see a car wanting to make a U-turn, I slow down a bit and give way, even if I don't have to. Better road planning would mean less U-turns and less risks. Roundabouts are always a good solution, because they also slow down traffic in urban areas.
Juergen
Dubai,UAE

The only traffic that U-turning drivers should have to assess is the traffic coming from the opposite side of the same road. U-turns should be avoided at points where there is oncoming traffic from the perpendicular road situated at the exact point where the U-turn is.
Antonios
Dubai,UAE

U-turns are always dangerous at high speeds or not. Decisions have to be taken in an instant by drivers making u-turns, especially on high-speed roads.
Makki
Dubai,UAE

We need U-turns. They save time, distance, and even fuel. Please do something else to control traffic, instead of closing the U-turns.
Hussain
Dubai,UAE