A massive car pile-up that killed one person and injured over 60 others near Samha on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai motorway has prompted plans to install western-style electronic boards on roads to warn drivers against fog and other hazards.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport will carry out the project, which was proposed by the Emirate’s traffic police as part of an ongoing drive to curb road crashes in the country, which already has one of the world’s highest road accident rates.
A senior police officer, quoted by Emirat Alyoum Arabic language daily on Monday, said the accident on Saturday had prompted such plans, adding that most drivers who were involved in that pile-up would be penalized.
Brigadier Hassan Ahmed Al Harthi, director of the Abu Dhabi traffic and patrols police, said the “smart boards” would be installed on speedways and most other roads.
“We have presented the proposal to the department of transport...the project involves the installation of electronic boards linked to the police operation centre as part of measures to curb accident, especially when there is dense fog,” he said.
“The proposal followed the accident that involved 127 cars near Samha-Shahama area...the boards will warn drivers against road hazards, including fog...they will instruct them to reduce speed and change direction in case of reduced visibility... the department is expected to launch the project after presenting a tender for it.”
Replying to a question, Harthi said there were no plans to shut any motorway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai but added that parts of the road could be closed during heavy fog. He noted that the Abu Dhabi-Dubai motorway is the busiest road in the UAE as it is used by nearly 8,000 cars per hour during peak periods.
“As for that accident, there are more than reason and more than a driver who caused it…the main reason is that the drivers had not left enough space between their cars while some had not taken the necessary safety measures during fog and others were driving at high speed despite bad fog conditions,” he said.
“Most of the drivers involved in that accident will be fined and have black points added to their file in accordance with the existing traffic law…we are awaiting police reports about the accident before we identify those responsible.”
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