All traffic junctions in the capital will soon be equipped with digital counting timers, Captain Engineer Hussain Ahmad Al Harthy, Head of Engineering Section at Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Department, told Gulf News.
The timers are being introduced by the department in coordination with the Municipality and Agriculture Department, he said. He was speaking on the sidelines of the 2nd Security and Safety Middle East 2005 Exhibition and Conference.
Digital counting timers to alert motorists as to when the signal will change, are already in use in many countries, particularly Australia and western nations.
Under the system, an illuminating digital timer is installed at each direction of a junction, alerting motorists as to when the signal changes.
Captain Al Harthy said: "So far we have only one timer at a busy junction on Salam Street. One more will be installed at another busy junction, in Khalidiyah area, in a week. Gradually, there will be a couple more in the capital.
"If the trial is a success, then all junctions in the city will be installed with the timers. We also have to see how it affects the flow of traffic and reduces the number of accidents, as well as get feedback from motorists."
Captain Al Harthy hoped the system would prove to be successful in reducing the numbers of accidents at traffic junctions as drivers are alerted by the timer as to when they should stop and accelerate.
Meanwhile, an official from the department said the 82 computerised radar devices, which were recently installed on the roads and highways of Abu Dhabi, have proved to be foolproof.
The computerised radar devices were introduced about six months ago, replacing all radar devices with films that needed to be processed.
Abdul Aziz Hamad Al Ka'abi of Abu Dhabi Traffic Department, demonstrating the device at the exhibition, said it was one of the most reliable radar devices so far introduced in the country.
He said: "It can take 5,000 pictures of speeding vehicles, with all the details, such as the exact time, including the seconds, date and the exact speed as well as the number of the vehicle.
"The poorest image can be improved. With these radar devices, no one can escape the fine."
Gulf News
