Motorists have complained that flashing amber traffic lights at roundabouts are causing more harm than good.
The biggest gripe among road users is that police have repeated the message that people should stop for amber lights at other junctions. The confusion has led to greater congestion and more accidents as some motorists unexpectedly stop, creating a huge traffic jam.
Traffic authorities recently installed signals at several roundabouts to reorganise traffic in the city, but had to turn them off when the traffic situation worsened.
Major Ahmad Abdullah Darwish, director of the Accidents Division at Sharjah Traffic Police, said that more lights were to be installed at major roundabouts but the project was stopped because they made the traffic situation worse.
"We installed the signals to resolve traffic problems at these roundabouts. But the signals caused traffic jams during peak hours on streets entering these roundabouts.
"We then decided to stop the signal control system but left the amber lights on. We received complaints from motorists that more accidents were occurring at these signals as they were getting confused," he said.
Trucks in the industrial areas, Darwish said, have disrupted the operation of signals at the roundabouts. "Large trucks take time to pass the roundabout as they exceed the timings set for signals," he said.
Authorities recently turned off signals at the "Flying Saucer" roundabout on Shaikh Humaid Bin Saqr Road, Al Nahda Roundabout, JNP roundabout and the Caterpillar roundabout in industrial areas seven, five and two respectively.
Mohammad Azhar, a Pakistani businessman in the industrial area, said: "I have seen many accidents at this JNP roundabout. We are confused as to whether the roundabout is controlled by the signal or not. Some motorists completely stop at the roundabout because they get confused by signals."
M. Krishnan, an accountant from India, said: "Signals with amber lights shouldnt be there because it confuses motorists. Controlling roundabouts with signals is not a good idea because trucks also use the them.
"I think the authorities should replace them with signal junctions because traffic would be regulated even better and it would prevent trucks causing accidents."
Akhtar Ali, another motorist from Pakistan, said: "Some drivers are trying to jump truck queues at these roundabouts. This poses a grave risk to motorists.
"Authorities should immediately either remove the signal or replace the roundabouts with junctions. This will help to get rid of confusion and make these roundabouts safer."
But Sharjah Traffic Police still intend to install signals at Al Kitab roundabout on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Saqr Road, the Clock roundabout at Rolla and the Kuwaiti roundabout on Shaikh Zayed Road.
These are major roundabouts, often formed by the convergence of six streets. He said the traffic department intends to install signals at these roundabouts following successful experiments at the Al Istiqlal and Al Hekouma roundabouts on Al Qassimiya road.
"These roundabouts are huge and need signals to regulate traffic from all directions. We often have to deploy Anjad police to regulate the traffic. If these roundabouts are controlled by signals it will save us time and effort and will reduce the number of accidents."
He said some roundabouts will be converted into intersections similar to those at Ali Bin Salim roundabout on Al Madaen Road and the Green Belt roundabout on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Sultan Road.
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