- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 05:31 06:49 12:14 15:11 17:33 18:52
The average waiting time for traffic signals in certain areas in the emirate has been improved, said the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
The improvements came as a result of a study analysing the traffic flow at some intersections and the carrying out of amendments where needed.
“The implementation phase of the project has come to an end, and in certain areas the traffic signals have been synchronised with the traffic requirements.
“This was the case areas such as Al Nahda, Deira, and Bur Dubai area in addition to Al Wasl Road and Juemirah Beach Road, commented Maitha bin Adai, CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency (TRA) at the RTA.
At major intersections in Dubai the approximate time a road user waits in front of a traffic signal is 54,7 seconds on average, bin Adai explained.
“After the synchronisation of traffic signals this rate was improved significantly in some areas. In Nahda and in Jumeirah this rate was improved by 14%, while Deira saw an improvement with 16%.”
The duration varies considerably depending on road capacity and infrastructure, bin Adai explained.
According to specialists, waiting time not only depends on the proper management of traffic light signals but also on the anticipation of traffic congestion on the road.
Although a green light might clear traffic in a certain street at regular times, during peak hours the green light time frame may not be enough to respond to the build-up traffic, which is likely to accumulate waiting time as a result.
The studied areas where pinpointed by commuters and authorities alike as being troublesome, especially during peak hours.
As the green light was only signalled long enough for some of the vehicles to pass through, commuters experienced long waiting times and traffic congestion in these areas.
There are currently no projects or studies ongoing related to the improvement of traffic signal improvement, said bin Adai.
Through the Madinati smart app of the RTA, road users can report any fault, damage or malfunctioning on the road, such as a failing or unsynchronised traffic light.
Non-functioning traffic lights and damaged signboards were the most common reports received from May 2013 to May 2014, said the RTA earlier.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.