Monday 01 November 2010:
to manage speeds on Abu Dhabi Emirate roads
ADP Directorate of Traffic and Patrols has completed a strategy to manage speeds on roads. It is one of the initiatives which is intended to develop traffic accidents data management mechanism and to intensify traffic control campaigns as part of its efforts to develop traffic safety system on internal and external roads in Abu Dhabi Emirate in cooperation with major partners.
Colonel (Engineer) Hussain Al Harthi, Director of ADP Directorate of Traffic and Patrols said "Speed limits on Abu Dhabi roads need to be a comprehensive study and review so as to keep pace with urbanization expansions and comprehensive development plan in the Emirate in the light of the big development projects under implementation, side by side with the expansions which internal and external roads witness in line with world-class specifications".
Al Harthi has affirmed the importance of the joint efforts to enhance and to provide safe traffic environment for all road users. The Directorate in collaboration with its major partners in the management of transport system on roads (Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi Municipality, Al Ain Municipality and Western Region Municipality) has prepared a strategy to manage speeds on roads. The mechanism includes: Study of current speed limits, their compliance with road design specifications and comparing best international practice with what is applied at present in Abu Dhabi. International expertise in this regard have been studied in the countries which there are best traffic safety standards (US, Sweden, Holland, Australia, Britain and New Zealand), comparing them with Abu Dhabi standards, identifying the learned lessons to develop and approve the ideal speed limits which should be used for each level of roads, activating the new approved speeds through amendment of traffic signs on roads, implementing awareness campaigns and readjusting radar machines accordingly.
There are several elements which should be taken into consideration when changing speed limits, including educating motorists on the new speeds, carrying out necessary engineering procedures and amendments and readjusting radars deployed on internal and external roads to spot violators.
"We are keen to implement the directives of our Higher Leadership in boosting cooperation between different government and non-government sectors and institutions as one team to achieve the desired aims. ADP GHQ supports this approach and believes in it through its deep rooted strategy calling for constructive cooperation with partners in different fields which serve the public interest", added Al Harthi.
He added "The strategy is now being prepared by specialists in traffic and roads safety engineering from the Directorate of Traffic and Patrols and representatives from the major partners. They will study the chances, points of weakness and traffic size expectations now and in the future. They will also consider all factors leading to traffic accidents and resulting deaths and severe injuries, so as to make scientific and methodological vision about speed limits in Abu Dhabi Emirate, to provide safe traffic environment to face future challenges and to allow