Abu Dhabi: Forty Portable Variable Message Signs (PVMS) have been deployed in Abu Dhabi signalling the first phase of an emirate-wide road safety campaign, a senior official said on Sunday.
"The PVMS are to be used for the upcoming Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November 2010 as it was previously used by the Department of Transport [DoT] for the Formula One 2009, and Fifa Club World Cup 2009 which was held at the Zayed Sports City and Mohammad Bin Zayed stadiums," said Engineer Faisal Ahmad Al Suwaidi, general director of main roads at the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi.
Visible from a distance of up to 300 metres, the wheeled hydraulic portable devices can be quickly positioned to forewarn motorists about dangerous road or travel conditions. PVMS are commonly used globally to provide drivers with warnings and up-to-date information and have proved extremely effective in reducing and preventing speed-related accidents.
Al Suwaidi said PVMS is being used as a short-term solution until permanent VMS and Intelligent Transportation Systems are installed possibly within the next three years. The equipment will initially be deployed along the Abu Dhabi-Dubai and Abu Dhabi-Al Ain main roads and will display digital messages in both Arabic and English, he added.
Infrastructure upgrade
Abu Dhabi's transport infrastructure is currently undergoing extensive development thus necessitating the latest technologies and strategies to maintain safety, Al Suwaidi said.
Unlike typical static signs, PVMS can provide critical and timely advice to drivers based on prevailing conditions such as bad weather, ongoing roadwork, heavy traffic congestion, and accidents. It also complements the emergence of Abu Dhabi as a global events hub by providing additional safety in work zones, parking areas, and venues.
