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Dubai: Plans to implement a minimum speed limit on Dubai's roads have gone down the drain because of friction between the authorities responsible for implementing the decision, Gulf News has learnt.
Early last year the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) introduced a minimum speed limit of 60 km/h on roads, which have a maximum speed limit of 100km/h and above but this has not yet been implemented.
The RTA also spent a huge amount on advertisements and sign boards warning motorists about the minimum speed limit but motorists driving below the speed limit have never been fined.
Plans for the minimum speed limit triggered debate when introduced by the RTA. A top traffic police official objected saying that it should be 70km/h but the RTA stuck to its guns saying that it had taken the decision after comprehensive studies.
However, the friction continued between the Traffic and Roads Agency at the RTA and the Traffic Police and no measures were taken to implement the decision.
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"We announced the decision and also educated motorists through advertisements and sign boards but the police were responsible for implementing this and it never happened," said a senior RTA official.
He said the disagreement between the RTA and the police on the issue regarding the minimum speed limit was not resolved.
A top traffic police official told Gulf News the police were never convinced on the issue. He said that there was a need for better coordination between the RTA and the Traffic Police on this important issue.
An RTA official said the aim was to encourage motorists to maintain an average speed and to avoid driving too slowly on highways.
Slow drivers cannot be caught on automatic speed cameras installed on roads because these only capture speeding motorists. Slow drivers were supposed to be tracked by cameras manned by the police but it has not been done so far.
Dangerous: Risk to road users
A study conducted by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reveals that introducing a minimum speed limit does not mean that a motorist has to drive at 60 km/h; rather it says a motorist should drive at a speed (above 60km/h) to keep up with the traffic flow within the given minimum and maximum speed limits depending on the traffic situation.
The decision is aimed at motorists who drive too slowly.
The RTA study also says if the minimum speed is set at 30 per cent less than the maximum speed of 120km/h, it would be 84 km/h and it would not be workable because it would be more than the maximum speed of 80km/h fixed for trucks on highways.
The RTA's decision to have a minimum speed limit of 60 km/h on roads calculates at 50 per cent less than the maximum speed on roads with a 120km/h upper limit and some 40 per cent on roads with a maximum speed limit of 100km/h.
COMPARISON
Limits on major roads |
| Country |
Max Speed
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Min Speed
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% of Min spd < Max speed
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| UK |
112 km/h
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64 km/h
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42%
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| USA |
105 km/h
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64 km/h
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39%
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| Germany |
130 km/h
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60 km/h
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54%
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| Spain |
120 km/h
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60 km/h
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50%
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| Belgium |
120 km/h
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70 km/h
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40%
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| Dubai |
100 to 120 km/h
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60 km/h
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40% to 50%
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| Some of the main roads in Dubai which will have minimum speed limit of 60 km/h |
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Source: Roads and Transport Authority
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Do you think a minimum speed limit should be imposed? Why? Have you ever faced problems because of motorists not following the speed limit? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form bellow to send your comments.
Your comments
Most of the roads in Dubai are clogged with vehicles; motorists get to drive their cars at a speed of 20 km/h if they are lucky. So a minimum and maximum speed limit does not play a very important role. The reason for the recent traffic problem on SZR started after the maximum speed limit was reduced to 100 km/h which has resulted in a traffic block which extends up to Ajman.
savio
dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 14:15
Slow drivers are the ones who cause accidents. That?s along with if we had any form of lane discipline in the UAE then we would all be safer. Slower and non-overtaking cars on the inner lane and faster and overtaking cars on the outer - simple. It works all over the civilized world and should work here
Mark
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 13:44
Driving more than 10 years in Dubai / UAE.The speed limits are for the name sake.Improve basic infrastructure of roads,Parking lots,more traffic signals which will eventually allow the drivers to maintain the required speed limit.Then we can have saperate lanes with certain speed limit.
sanjay
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 13:33
It's funny since on SZR you hardly drive over 40km/h in traffic. So many cars to fine ;)
KJ
SHJ,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 12:38
Some drivers frustrate me and irritate others who value their time by moving on roads like turtiles.
This happened especially at the morning when people are running to their offices.
Marmoum
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 12:37
Most of the times we cannot achieve the minimum speed of 60km/hr. due to traffic congestion. In such cases are the people going to get fined? One has to drive at speeds as low as 10-20km/hr. on these roads. During peak office hours I do not remember my speedometer crossing a speed of 25-30km/hr on Al Ittihad Road.
Omkar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 11:48
I wasn't aware that Dubai Police had a traffic section? Must be a very small department.
Dozza
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 11:47
Another mistake and unplanned activity by RTA. Sometimes on these mentioned roads its hard to maintain a speed of even 20 Kms per hour, how can one drive 60 Kms pers hour. In that case the traffic problem needs to be solved and the road needs to be clear.
Zameer
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 11:32
The decision should be imposed especially for heavy duty drivers, as every day when I drive across from Dubai to Abu Dhabi a pick-up driver has to spend hours chasing other slow drivers on the main road, due to restrictions on overtakes.
Mazhar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 11:15
Driving in Dubai means you need to have eyes at the back of your head with instant telepathy to all drivers in your near-area. Then, while doing this at a constant speed of either 80 or 100 kph, you have to watch out for traffic hazards like drivers keeping a constant speed of 60kph or below, who believe they're going by the law. So, basically traffic is never at a constant speed and the speed is anywhere between 60 - 120kph. Whoever thought this was a good idea needs to rethink!
Ineke
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 11:01
It all comes back to the proper training that should be given to people before granting them a driving license.
Khalil
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 10:48
Implementing minimum speed limit in Dubai roads is not advisable, because in case of traffic every one should drive slowly. At that time slow speed cameras will catch the drivers for low speed, so who will be Responsible in this case.
Sultan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 10:43
If Ittehad road will have a min of 60km speed, 80% of the traffic will get a fine passing through it due to slow speed.
Haider
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 10:34
Minimum speed limits should be advisory only. I suggest that on all these major roads, modern and enforceable variable speed limit signs should be installed which will show speeds according to road, traffic and weather conditions.
Sushama
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 10:26
Yes, because some people drive just like they are driving in a garden! It really frustrates and irritates others who value their time.
Habib
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 10:07
I think it cannot be implemented because the roads are always jammed and it would not make sense if the traffic is moving at a snail?s pace. This minimum speed limit would be effective only if there are freeways. For the time being it should not be implemented. Yes, people should adhere to a maximum speed limit, which is essential.
Sudhir
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 09:37
I don't think that the minimum speed fine would work in Dubai as there is a lot of traffic. I should say that most people are in a hurry to reach their destination. As a daily traveller of SZR I've hardly seen anyone driving below 80km/hr. In my view this would not work.
Taher
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 09:10
It is not only generally slow drivers, but also drivers who slow down just to get a glimpse of an accident by the side of the road. These drivers are a big problem on highways, they cause traffic congestion and often don't know which direction they are heading at and cause more accidents themselves.
Behin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 08:56
Although I am in favour of the proposed minimum speed limit, educate the whole country to drive in the correct lanes and the banning of undertaking will solve more of the traffic problems and reduce accidents.
David
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 21, 2008, 07:40
USA speed limits are 120km/h in some states. Some states have a minimum of 90km/h. Speed limits should be based on the 85th percentile speed travelled. Minimum speed limits should be based on the average speed minus 15km/h.
Henryh
Sanford,USA
Posted: May 21, 2008, 04:10
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