Dubai to implement new traffic control systems this year

Dubai traffic chief calls for greater use of public transport.

In 2013, traffic congestion cost Dubai’s economy nearly Dh3 billion in lost working hours, time and fuel. Sarah Dea / The National

DUBAI // New roads alone will not solve Dubai’s Dh3 billion-a-year congestion problem, the emirate’s traffic chief said on Monday.

Authorities will focus on technology to improve vehicle flow, and on greater use of public transport.

“More roads by themselves do not solve the problem of congestion and we are taking a clear decision to focus more on public transport and technology,” Maitha bin Udai, chief executive of the Roads and Transport Authority’s traffic and roads agency, told Smart Traffic Middle East 2015.

Ms bin Udai said mobile applications were a success. The free “smart drive” mobile app had been downloaded by more than a million people since its launch in October year.

“Users can find out about traffic congestion, roadworks and accidents using their mobile connection. They can view real-time traffic information and adjust travel plans. This is an example of an advanced travel information system that complements traffic management.”

One of the agency’s new projects is adding about 500 traffic signals to the 330 already connected to the traffic management centre by wireless.

Traffic congestion in 2013 cost Dubai’s economy nearly Dh3bn in lost working hours, time and fuel. However, if the emirate had not invested Dh60bn in public transport in the past nine years, the potential loss of productivity would have been Dh16.5bn.

Ms bin Udai said the second phase of the intelligent traffic systems project would start this year.

The RTA will determine how to manage the increase in traffic, and identify what improvements can be made using technology.

The two-day conference has drawn more than 100 government officials, traffic experts and municipalities, to discuss initiatives from around the world.

On public transport, one of the recommendations was adjusting charges between peak and off-peak hours.

Other experts said road safety was an integral part of traffic management.

“It requires working out how to educate people and campaigning around safer driving,” said Roger Cruickshank, director of strategic transport planning at Atkins, the engineering and design company that worked on the Dubai Metro and is now involved in the Doha and Riyadh metro projects.

“If people focus more on the road and less on what is going on around them, or focus on cars and less on mobile devices, they can get to their destination more safely.

“The RTA has programmes going into schools and there is also now a focus on technology, improving road systems and encouraging people into public transport. There is also a firm need to think about educating people about safer driving.”