Dubai RTA And Police Collaborate To Enhance Traffic Safety And Public Transport Security

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, held a coordination meeting. They reviewed the results and indicators of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy.

The meeting also addressed Dubai Police's requirements for the Blue Line project of the Dubai Metro and the safety of public transport users. Mattar Al Tayer praised the strategic partnership between RTA and Dubai Police, which has enhanced coordination towards achieving the objectives of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy, including reducing road traffic fatalities.

"Traffic safety features high among the priorities of the Traffic Safety Strategy and RTA’s goals. RTA is keen to achieve the targeted indicators of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy with its "Zero Fatalities" vision to rank Dubai the best in the world in terms of traffic safety. The traffic accident fatality rate decreased by as much as 93 percent between 2007 and 2023. RTA also strives to enhance safety and security of all mass and individual mobility means, and to develop traffic awareness and education channels for the benefit of all road users in Dubai," Al Tayer added.

The meeting reviewed progress on implementing the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy 2022-2026, which includes four main pillars: Enforcement, Roads and Vehicles Engineering, Traffic Awareness, and Systems & Management. Joint efforts resulted in achieving all annual targets for 2023. The fatality rate recorded was 1.6 deaths per 100,000 people, lower than the target of 2.0 deaths.

Last year, both parties implemented several strategic initiatives. These included enhanced traffic enforcement for serious violations related to pedestrian crossings, motorcycles, bicycles, and scooters. Over 500,000 violations were issued. Additionally, 32 raised pedestrian crossings were constructed, and improvements were made at over 200 locations for individual mobility users.

Other measures taken included studying and addressing 29 sites with recurring incidents. The smart management project for public transport drivers was implemented alongside joint traffic awareness campaigns. Awareness and inspection campaigns for delivery motorcycle drivers were also launched.

Blue Line Project

The two sides discussed requirements to ensure passenger safety for the Blue Line project extending 30 km (15 km underground route), featuring 14 stations (9 elevated and 5 underground). The Blue Line connects with Red Line at Centrepoint Station and Green Line at Al Khor Station. It serves nine vital areas with a projected population of one million by 2040.

The Blue Line is expected to serve 200,000 passengers daily upon opening, rising to 320,000 daily by 2040. It will serve Dubai Silicon Oasis according to Dubai’s Urban Plan 2040. This will boost development and economy while appreciating land value around metro stations by 10-25 percent and reducing traffic congestion by 20 percent.

Partnership Praise

Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri commended the strategic partnership between Dubai Police HQ and RTA. He noted that this collaboration has established joint systems achieving enhanced security on roads in Dubai. "The General HQ of Dubai Police is keen on boosting traffic safety to achieve Dubai's strategic goal of being a safe city characterised by solid development," he said.

Al Marri highlighted that recent efforts have significantly reduced traffic accident fatalities in Dubai due to coordination with strategic partners. Continuous awareness campaigns addressing various traffic issues have also contributed to this decline.

The meeting was attended by Major General Abdullah Ali Al Ghaithi, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs; Major General Ahmed Thani bin Ghulaita Al Muhairi; Director of General Department of Forensic Evidence; Major General Tariq Tehlak; Acting Director of General Department of Traffic from Dubai Police; Abdullah Yousef Al Ali; CEO Licensing Agency; Mohammed Yousef Al Mudharreb; CEO Corporate Technology Support Services Sector; Hussain Al Banna; CEO Traffic & Roads Agency; Moaza Saeed Al Marri; Executive Director Office Director General from RTA side.

This collaboration aims to maintain a safe environment in line with Dubai's vision for a secure future.

With inputs from WAM