Abu Dhabi is installing advanced cameras at traffic intersections and setting up more electronic speed control boards on key roads to curb deadly offences.
The project, involving nearly 170 cameras, followed a surge in road accidents that killed more than 750 people and injured thousands last year. Officials said 69 cameras have already been installed at major intersections inside the capital while 70 others will be set up within the next 18 months.
"It is part of a comprehensive project to rehabilitate the entire traffic control network in the city by introducing the Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) enforced in most of the advanced countries," Khalifa Al Housani, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Municipality, told the municipality bulletin.
Municipal engineers said such cameras are the latest in traffic control technology as they operate in extreme climatic conditions and have a long range detection capability.
They are part of a clampdown by Abu Dhabi authorities against increasing traffic offences, including jumping the red light, speeding, reckless and drunk driving, illegal parking, negligence, failure to use seat belts and other violations.
Advanced electronic speed control boards have been set up for this purpose on the seaside Corniche road, the Eastern ring road, Musaffah road and other areas. The high, giant screen can be seen from a long distance as it flashes in red the speed of approaching cars and tells speeding ones to slow down.
More speed control cameras have also been installed on streets inside and outside the capital while traffic police are intensifying the use of hidden mobile cameras. "These measures will become effective in curbing traffic offences, and, consequently accidents," a police officer said. "But you cannot expect results overnight. We need time."
Road accidents killed 755 people in the UAE last year and nearly two thirds of them were from the emirates, India and Pakistan, according to statistics.
The casualties were a result of more than 10,800 accidents caused mainly by traffic rules violation, showed the figures of the Federal Traffic Department at the Ministry of Interior.
The death toll from road accidents was higher than in 2001, when 673 people died, although the number of accidents was lower.
ClampdownMotorists caught unawares* The traffic cameras are part of the Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) being adopted in Abu Dhabi.
* They are part of a clampdown by Abu Dhabi authorities against increasing traffic offences, including jumping the red light, speeding, reckless and drunk driving, illegal parking, negligence and failure to use seat belts.
* Electronic speed control boards have also been set up on Corniche Road, the Eastern ring road, Musaffah road and other areas.
* Excessive speed resulted in 862 accidents in Abu Dhabi last year while 530 were caused by jumping red lights and more than 1,500 by other violations. The emirate has the highest rate of traffic offences.
* Abu Dhabi has the highest rate of traffic offences and accidents in the UAE. Its traffic police reported 7,390 driving offences in one week this month.
Gulf News
