Swedish institute warns against increasing speed limits

A Swedish institute, which has concluded a road development project for the Ministry of Interior, has warned against increasing the country's speed limits.

According to the Swedish National Institute for Roads and Communications Research (VTI) study, which was submitted to the ministry recently, both the number of accidents and casualties would increase if the maximum speed limits on the roads were increased.

The institute carried out special surveys and research on all the major roads and highways of Abu Dhabi as a model for the country's road development project, which included increasing the speed limit on a number of highways for a certain period.

Under the survey, speed limits on the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain and Abu Dhabi-Dubai highways were increased from 120km/h to 160km/h. The speed limit was also increased from 120km/h to 140km/h on a couple of other roads in the emirate on a trial basis during the project.

After analysing the results and comparing them with previous annual reports and records of these highways during this period, the institute suggested the ministry continue with its earlier maximum speed limits.

The institute, according to a ministry source, has finalised and submitted the study to the ministry. However, according to him, implementation of the study's proposals will be made after it is presented to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for approval.

Big jump in death rates at 160km/h limit

The Swedish National Institute for Roads and Communications Research (VTI) study found that at 120km/h maximum speed limit the death toll would be 20 on Abu Dhabi-Al Ain highway and 13 on Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway.

However, the study predicted that if the speed limit is raised to 140km/h the toll would be 24.2 on Abu Dhabi-Al Ain highway and 15.8 on Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway.

At 160km/h limit, the death toll would be 29.9 on the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain highway and 19.1 on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway.