Dubai: The year-long trial run of the Roads and Transport Authority’s new traffic incidents management (TIM) system is all set to roll out with the Emirates Transport bagging the contract to manage the programme.
Set to be on trial from September 16 in a 70km section of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, the Dubai Police-RTA joint venture is expected to cut down delays by up to 35 per cent.
The TIM is also being run in coordination with the Dubai Municipality, Dubai Traffic Prosecution, Directorate General of Dubai Civil Defence, and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services. “The system is intended to ensure rapid deployment for clearance of vehicles involved in minor incidents or experiencing breakdowns on roads. The underlying objective of the system is to fend off potential snarls, streamline the traffic flow at the accident site, and avoid secondary accidents triggered by sudden congestion,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA.
He added Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road was selected due to intense traffic movement on the highway, especially during peak hours, and the high frequency of minor incidents and vehicle breakdowns.
“For now, five locations have been selected as road patrol stations on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road to ensure that each patrol covers a 13km stretch of the road. Accordingly, it will be easy for the patrol to arrive on the incident scene within 10 minutes,” said Al Tayer.
The Traffic Incidents Unit will cater to vehicle breakdowns and the rapid deployment at site and nearby roads.
“The unit will also cope with minor incidents that do not warrant hailing the police, and remove vehicles involved in traffic incidents or breakdown to restore traffic to normal. It will assess the resulting damage inflicted to the infrastructure, file reports, carry out diversions at site, and assist road users. The unit will also lend support to Dubai Police and protect vehicles at site, besides offering traffic support during events,” he added.
According to Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, the police units will investigate major accidents and injury-associated accidents, report traffic offences, provide judicial support to the Traffic Incidents Unit, monitor traffic cameras and undertake clearance of casualties, among others.
“The RTA will provide technical support to the traffic unit, study traffic diversions, and manage the timings of traffic light as well as the virtual messaging signs and tactical traffic diversions. It will also monitor the traffic movement, develop response plans, monitor cameras at site, and prepare the infrastructure in the selected trial sectors,” said Maj-Gen Al Merri.
He added that comprehensive traffic management studies have been commissioned and a manual for coping with such accidents has been developed.
Studies reveal that Dubai experiences about 250,000 vehicle breakdowns each year. According to studies, the TIM system will contribute to reducing the clearance time of minor accidents by 35 per cent, cut congestion and associated expenses by 25 per cent, and minimise the rate of secondary traffic accidents.
