Abu Dhabi to cancel grace speed limit on roads

Abu Dhabi traffic authorities have decided to gradually reduce grace speed limit on roads from the start of 2013 before it is totally cancelled as part of a strategy intended to curb accidents, a newspaper reported on Friday.

The decision will affect both motorways and internal roads, where drivers are currently permitted to overshoot the assigned speed limit by 20 kph.

“From the beginning of next year, we will start cutting the grace speed limit gradually so the drivers will get used to the new limit…within two years from that date, there will be no grace speed on all roads,” the semi official daily Alittihad said, quoting traffic police chief Brigadier Hussein Ahmed Al Harithi.

“All external and internal roads in Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and the western region will have no grace speed after two years…we call on all motorists to abide by the speed limit to avert accidents and ensure the safety of roads and road users.”

Harithi said the plan is part of a long-term traffic strategy designed to achieve zero deaths on roads by 2030.

Abu Dhabi emirate, with a population of more than two million, has one of the highest road accident rates in the world, exceeding 10,000 in 2011. Experts blamed massive road violations, lack of awareness and relatively lax laws.

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