Wednesday, Apr 03, 2013
Abu Dhabi: Motorists will now be able to get alerts about accidents and traffic jams from numerous electronic message boards which are being installed on roads in the capital, the Department of Transport announced yesterday.
At least 86 variable electronic message signs (VMS) will also notify motorists on road blocks, construction and weather updates, giving them the opportunity to change their route if necessary.
“I think that when people opt for different routes to get to their destination they are also helping by not adding to congested areas and becoming a part of the traffic problem. It will help spread people out and will certainly be useful in our city,” said 31 year-old oil field services engineer L.A.
Fifty-six of the VMS will be equipped with traffic monitoring stations to record data from their located areas and send the information to a central data centre. This will ensure that the signs are constantly updated according to the corresponding road situation. The remaining boards will display general message on road closures, others will state information pertaining to specific lanes where road closures and speed limit changes will be identified.
Closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) accompanying the message boards will provide visibility to road watchers, further assisting them in placing VMS content.
“The electronic signs will allow us to communicate with motorists in real time to ensure they are kept up-to-date with necessary traffic information to plan their route accordingly and be aware of any upcoming traffic issues.” Eng Faisal Al Suwaidi, director general of main roads in the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi.
The DoT will also track weather conditions such as fog and rainfall, to prepare motorists to reduce their speed and be extra vigilant while on the road.
Brigadier Engineer Hussain Ahmad Al Harthi, Director of Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate, previously told Gulf News that road monitoring will help police determine the number of patrols to be dispatched. “VMS will broadcast to drivers the new temporary speed limits for this period of time and will help police to react quickly to accidents and incidents to prevent pile-ups on the roads,” he said.
Residents have generally welcomed the idea including HR officer Mais Al Kayali who said: “I have seen such technology in European countries and have always thought it would be a great assistive aid to Abu Dhabi road users. I am delighted to hear that this will finally be implemented and am sure it will produce excellent results,”
The project is currently in its procurement stages with VMS already present on Al Salam Street but the date of the plan’s actual implementation is still unknown. The DoT has stated that the project will be rolled out in phases with its expected completion date in the third quarter of 2014.
By Nada Al Taher Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
