Roads & Transport Authority - News Details

Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that the Traffic Incidents Management Unit has dealt with more than 1800 traffic incidents on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road since deployed last September. The Unit is run in coordination with RTA’s strategic partners namely Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Traffic Prosecution, Civil Defence Directorate, and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services. 

The Unit is aimed to ensure the rapid deployment to clear vehicles involved in minor traffic accidents or sustaining breakdown on roads; which will alleviate traffic congestion. The Unit also streamlines the traffic movement at sites of serious accidents on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. 

“Thanks to the continuous coordination with the Dubai Police through the Traffic Incidents Management Unit since deployed in the middle of last September, the Unit has dealt with more than 1800 traffic incidents on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and hit several performance indicators of the project. The time taken to send traffic patrols to the accident site was not more than 10 minutes from the receipt of the report. Vehicles are cleared in not more than 15 minutes. 60% of traffic accidents that took place were related to light vehicles, and 15% were for heavy vehicles,” said Eng. Maitha bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency. 

“The unit is deployed at five spots at junctions of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road with Al Yalayes, Jebel Ali-Lehbab, Hessa and Tunis Streets in addition to the premises of the General Department of Operations of Dubai Police. The unit is fitted with towing vehicles and heavy equipment positioned at these locations as well. 

“The task of the Traffic Incidents Unit is not confined to the removal of faulty vehicles or those involved in accidents, but extends to include the development of emergency plans for implementation in case the traffic movement warrants closing part of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and diverting the traffic to other junctions,” explained Maitha.

“The unit can mobilise all resources related to the smooth traffic flow and furnish motorists with the required information and traffic guidance. It will have access to the smart resources for traffic management including variable speed signs and smart signs on streets to direct motorists when needed.”

“The scheme is aligned with the world’s best practices. A specialist consultant had conducted a traffic management study for Dubai along with a manual governing the process of dealing with traffic accidents in Dubai. The study revealed that Dubai roads experience about 250 thousand vehicle breakdowns, and about 200 thousand minor accidents every year. According to these inputs, the Traffic Accidents Management Unit will reduce the clearance time of minor accidents by 35% and associated congestions & costs by 25%, besides curbing the rate of secondary accidents,” added Maitha.

“Vehicles deployed for incidents management were tailor-made to the objectives set in terms of exterior reflective colours rendering them easily recognised from a distance. They are fitted with tools for use at the accident site such as lighting, cones, and plates. They offer some services to faulty vehicles on roads such as battery recharging, refuelling and the replacement of defective tyres. 

“The scheme, which is run for the first year on a trial base, remains operational 24/7 without involving any charges to the public. Upon the completion of the trial period, we will have sufficient inputs to expand it across the Emirate. The Unit is coordinating with the Emergency Team of the Traffic and Roads Agency to make preparations for anticipated emergencies, especially during the rainy season and climate changes to cope with developments,” she concluded. 

Brigadier Mohammed Nasir Al Razooqi, Director of the General Department of Transport and Rescue at the Dubai Police, praised the success of the Unit. “The main objective of the scheme is to ensure that the traffic accidents units respond to the traffic accident reports within 10 minutes and the response of recovery vehicles & equipment is materialised within 15 minutes in case no third party had intervened. 

“Provisionally the scheme has yielded good results. The arrival time to the incidents site reported was 6 minutes, and the transport vehicles arrival time was 14 minutes. Such figures have been achieved thanks to the tactical deployment of six patrols at certain spots and the deployment of a specially trained team. The Unit is supported with 11 heavy equipment to remove damaged or faulty vehicles and is capable of dealing with any vehicles of any size or type. 

“The periodic meetings between Dubai Police, RTA, Traffic Prosecution, Ambulance and Civil Defence, and Dubai Municipality have contributed significantly to positioning the project on the right path. It was possible to implement the technical standards stated in the study commissioned by a specialist team. The Police Centers along the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road took part in the training workshop of the Traffic Incidents Management Unit. The service will be assessed, and the findings will be submitted as per the classifications set, for further improvements. 

“The Units are equipped with advanced telecommunication devices linked with the Command and Control Room of the Dubai Police. The procedures and coordination channels are being continuously upgraded for the safety of road users to ensure higher security and safety on Dubai roads,” he added.