New Abu Dhabi police cars to ease accident procedures

Abu Dhabi Traffic Police has started replacing the traditional red and white police cars with the new black-striped white cars.

Nearly 15 such vehicles have already been deployed in Abu Dhabi since mid-April and more would be in service in the next few weeks.

The new service, dubbed 'Saeed', meaning 'help' in Arabic, was launched by the Abu Dhabi Traffic Police just before end of 2008 on motorways and other roads outside the capital before it was introduced in the city this month.

The service is confined to road accidents that do not involve victims and is intended to ease pressure on the main traffic police force and tackle sudden traffic buildups that result from such accidents.

Operating under the Abu Dhabi traffic police command, the new vehicles are equipped with radios and computers linked to the police traffic department.

A policeman of the new force said: "This service is aimed at easing pressure on the main traffic police squad, facilitate procedures after accidents and avoid traffic pile up. It is called Saeed as we try to help everyone. Most people are happy because we are trying to tackle the traffic jams that occur after accidents."

But that was not the opinion of some others. "Last week, I was with my friend when another car hit our's and fled," said Isam Ayash. "When we dialled the police for help, this white car came and started the normal procedures. The policeman asked my friend to pay Dh500 though it was not his fault. He refused to pay and went to the traffic police department… They gave him an accident report without any fee."

Traffic police said only drivers found to be responsible for the accident have to pay Dh500, which is an official fee. They said the service was needed because of an increase in accidents in the emirate and complaints about traffic bottlenecks resulting from even simple accidents.

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